BIRD PARADISE loi 



blackbird family and secured their full Dame 

 through a habit they had of gathering in small 

 flocks around the cows in the pasture. The ob- 

 ject of their friendship for the cows was the 

 increased opportunity it gave them of securing 

 their accustomed food. I have seen them often 

 on the old farm seated on the cows' backs — the 

 animals evidently enjoying their bird guests' 

 company. Among our many birds the cow- 

 buntings are the only species that take no part 

 in rearing their young. They build no nests, 

 never pair like other birds, have no nuptial song, 

 in short, so live that they throw aside everything 

 that savors of the domestic life. I am sure such 

 a course gives a peculiar kind of character that 

 has but little in it that is attractive. Just how 

 these fellows moored their craft at such an an- 

 chorage I do not know. Neither do I know how 

 extensively it is practiced. I never have seen a 

 nest built by the cow-bunting, but I have seen 

 their eggs deposited in the nests of other birds, 

 always, I believe, in those of smaller size, a 

 scheme that shows some little sign of thoughtful- 

 ness. I am told that the yellow warbler on find- 

 ing the egg deposited in its nest will build a 

 new bottom, thus defeating the cowbird's plan. 

 Some one states that he has seen two of these 



