MOLOTHKUS PECORIS, COW-BIRD. 185 



undation of so many "well-springs," and the fatlier saved the necessity 

 of hanging himself from the nearest coiiveuient crotch. 



It is interesting to observe the female Cow-bird ready to lay. She 

 becomes disquieted ; she betrays unwonted excitement, and ceases her 

 busy search for food with her companions. At length she separates 

 from the flock, and sallies forth to reconnoitre, anxiously indeed, for her 

 case is urgent, and she has no home. How obstrusive is the sad 

 analogy! She flies to some thicket, or hedge-row, or other common 

 resort of birds, where, something teaches her — perhaps experience — 

 nests will be found. Stealthily and in perfect silence she flits along, 

 peering furtively, alternately elated or dejected, into the depths of the 

 foliage. She espies a nest, but the owner's head peeps over the brim, 

 and she must pass on. Now, however, comes her chance; there is the 

 very nest she wishes, and no one at home. She disappears for a few 

 minutes, and it is almost another bird that comes out of the bash. Her 

 business done, and trouble over, she chuckles her self-gratulations, 

 rustles her plumage to adjust it trimly, and flies back to her associates. 

 They know what has happened, but are discreet enough to say nothing — 

 charity is often no less wise than kind. 



Polygamy is rare among higher birds ; in no creatures are the parental 

 and conjugal instincts more strongly developed or beautifully displayed. 

 But the Uow-bird illustrates this mode of life, and not in the lordly 

 manner of the barn-yard cock, so devoted to his harem, so gallant and 

 just to all. As in this species there is no love of oflspring, neither can 

 there be conjugal affection; all family ties are dispensed with. The 

 association is a mere herding together in quest of food in similar resorts. 

 The Gow-birds never mate ; their most intimate relations are no sooner 

 effected than forgotten ; not even the decent restrictions of a seraglio 

 are observed; it is a perfect community of free-lovers, who do as the 

 original Cynics did. The necessary courtship becomes in consequence 

 a curiously mixed affair. During the period corresponding to the mat- 

 ing season of orderly birds, the patriarchs of the sorry crew mount up 

 the trees and fences, to do what they call their singing. They posture 

 and turn about, and ruifle their feathers to look bigger than Isature 

 made them; if their skins were not tough they would certaiisly burst 

 with vanity. They puff out their throats and pipe the most singular 

 notes, perhaps honestly wishing to please their companions of the other 

 sex — at any rate, to their own satisfaction. Meanwhile the females are 

 perched near by, but without seeming very enthusiastic — rather taking 

 it all as a matter of course, listening at times, it may be, but just as 

 likely preening their plumage, with other thoughts and an ulterior pur- 

 pose. The performance over, it is a very little while afterward when 

 the whole band goes trooping after food in the nearest cattle-yard or 

 Ijasture. 



Cow-birds appear to be particularly abundant in the West; more so, 

 perhaps, than they reallj' are, for the numbers that in the East spread 

 equally over large areas are here drawn within small compass, owing 

 to lack of attractions abroad. Every wagon-train passing over the 

 prairies in summer is attended by flocks of the birds ; every cnmp and 

 stock-corral, permanent or temporary, is besieged by the busy birds, 

 eager to glean subsistence from the wasted forage. Their lamiliarity 

 under these circumstances is surprising. Perpetually wandering about 

 the feet of the draught-animals, or perching upon their backs, they be- 

 come so accustomed to man's j)resence that they will hardly get out of 

 the way. I have even known a young bird to suffer itself to be taken 

 in hand, and it is no uncommon thing to have the birds fluttering within 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



