Birds of Indiana. 891 



Most persons have seen it aecompaiiying the cattle in pasture. Mr. 

 Widmann thinks, thus, it used to accompany the American Bison. In 

 its migrations, and because of its wanderings, it could neither build 

 a nest or take time to rear a family. Thus, to his mind, was the habit 

 formed. No one kind of bird is selected to be the foster parent. Major 

 Bendire mentions ninety species of birds in whose nests Cowbirds' eggs 

 have been found. These range from the size of the Mourning Dove, 

 and Meadow Lark, to .the little Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and House 

 Wren. Such well known birds as the Phoebe, Song Sparrow, Tewhee, 

 Indigo Bunting, Oven-birds, and Yellow-breasted Chat, are most often 

 imposed upon. The Yellow Warbler, however, is often a match for the 

 Cowbird; frequently she buries the latter's egg or eggs and her own 

 beneath a second story built on top of her nest, and deposits another 

 set of eggs. Mr. E. E. Quick, of Brookville, has a nest of this Warbler 

 to which a third story has been added, burying two efforts of the Cow- 

 bird to perpetuate its Mnd. There have been other such nests found. 

 The Acadian Flycatcher and, perhaps, Traill's Flycatcher, disposes 

 of the Cowbird's eggs in the same way, sometimes. 



"It is very interesting to observe the female Cowbird ready to lay. 

 • She becomes disquieted. At length she separates from the flock and 

 sallies forth to reconnoitre, anxiously, indeed, for her ease is urgent 

 and she has no home. How obtrusive is the sad analogy! She flies to 

 some thicket, or hedgerow, 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 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 

 bush. Her business done, and troubles over, she chuckles her self- 

 gratulation, rustles her plumage to adjust it trimly and fly back to her 

 associates. They know what has happened, but are discreet enough to 

 say nothing; charity is often no less wise than kind" (Dr. Coues, Birds 

 of the N. W., p. 185). The Cowbird's egg is said to hatch in about ten 

 or eleven days. It hatches earlier, the young is larger, more persistent, 

 or has some quality that is usually not found in the nest-mates. So it 

 thrives and the others perish. Every Cowbird's egg is usually the 

 cause of the destruction of a whole brood of more useful birds. They 

 disappear as the dryer summer months come on, seeking the swamps 

 and marshy pastures. In September they migrate, a few, however, 

 remaining through the succeeding months and well into November. 

 Most years they are gone before October 1. In Lake County they 



