BLACK OR IRIDESCENT BLACK 411 



495. COWBIRD. — Molothrus ater. 

 Family : The Blackbirds, Orioles, etc. 



Length: Male 7.75-8.25 ; female 7.25-7.75. 



Adult Male : Head, neck, and chest uniform brownish ; rest of plumage 



glossy black, with a greenish reflection, changing to purplish on back. 

 Adult Female: Plumage . plain brownish gray, darker on upper parts, 



paler on chin and throat. 

 Young; Upper parts dull brownish gray, feathers bordered with pale 



buffy ; under parts dull light buffj', broadly streaked with grayish 



brown. 

 Geographical Distribution : United States and more southern British 



Provinces ; south in winter to Southern Mexico. Irregular winter 



visitant in California. 

 Eggs: 8 to 12. Deposited in nests of other birds ; whitish, whole sur- 

 face covered witli brown specks and blotches, usually heaviest at the 



larger end. Size 0.88 X 0.64. 



Among the great herds on the plains of the Middle 

 West Cowbirds are found in great abundance. Perched 

 on the backs of cattle, they search industriously for 

 insects, and in the waterless regions may prove a great 

 blessing to the poor creatures tormented with heat 

 and flies. If so, it is the one thing to be said in com- 

 mendation of a bird universally despised. Unmusical, 

 its only note is a screeching call. It is the sneak of the 

 feathered world and hated by all the rest. Too lazy to 

 build for herself, the female lays her eggs in the most 

 convenient nest whose owners happen to be away. Her 

 ugly nestling is larger and grows faster than his adoptive 

 brothers, and soon succeeds either in hoisting them out 

 of the nest, smothering them in it, or starving them by 

 seizing all the food in spite of the parents' efforts to 

 divide evenly. For every Cowbird reared a brood of 



