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495. Molothrus ater (Bodd.). [258.] Cowbird. 
A common breeder throughout the Mississippi Valley and Manitoba. In 
winter flocks abound inthe Southern States, extending north tosouthern 
Illinois in the east, and in the west to the central part of Indian Territory. 
At San Angelo, Tex., it was reported as resident, afew remaining in win- 
ter, but most of them going south. Onasking Mr. Lloyd whether he was 
sure itwas MV. ater that nested there, he replied that its identification as 
the typical bird was positive, and that he had found their eggs from May 
1 to June 10 in-nests of the Orchard Oriole, Nonpareil, Bell’s Vireo, etc.” 
In this he agrees with Mr. Nehrling, who makes the same statement 
concerning its breeding at Houston, Tex. In Indian Territory, at 
Caddo, they were quite common throughout the winter of 188334, but 
all the birds were either females or males in the garb of the female; no 
bright males were seen until January 17, and no flocks of males until 
January 19, The bulk of males came January 22; the bulk of the 
species left February 22, and the last disappeared March 24. At Saint 
Louis, in the spring of 1884, the first came March 17, but only a few 
were seen. At Carlinville, Ill., some were seen March 31, and at Bur- 
lington, Iowa, April 7. So far the dates probably represent somewhat 
nearly the actual movements of the species. Then came the severe and 
widespread snow-storms of the early part of April, as a result of which 
only one record north of Burlington was made previous to April 16, but 
when the records began again they were so thoroughly and hopelessly 
contradictory that it is useless to attempt to reconcile them. All that 
can be said is that “firsts” came to stations between the parallels of 
41° and 459° all the way from April 16 to May 15, being quoted from 
latitude 45°, April 16, and from latitude 41°, May 15, with all intermedi. 
ate dates between. The first was recorded from Argusville, Dak., May 
9. There seems to be an error in the date (April 14) given trom Oak 
Point, Manitoba. The female of the Red-winged Blackbird was marked 
as coming the same day, and possibly was mistaken for it. 
In the fall of 1884 the last migrant was seen at Mount Carmel, Mo., 
September 20. 
In the spring of 1885 the records from stations east of the Mississippi 
River were too irregular for use. From those farther west the follow- 
ing may be selected as giving an approximate idea of the time of migra- 
tion. The first were noted at San Angelo, Tex., March 6; hundreds 
were seen at Bonham, Tex., March 23; the first was reported from Saint 
Louis, Mo., March 30; Des Moines, Iowa, April 10; Waukon, Iowa, 
April 21; Lanes%oro, Minn., April 23; Heron Lake, Minn., April 28; 
Argusville, Dak., May 4; Shell River, Manitoba, May 14. In the fall 
of 1885 the last Cowbird at Grinnell, Iowa, was seen November 1; at 
Saint Louis, Mo., the last flock was seen October 30; at Bonham, Tex., 
the first migrants appeared October 14. 
*In a recent paper on the birds of western Texas Mr. Lloyd gives this species as a 
spring and fall migrant, and the Dwarf Cowbird as the form which breeds there: 
(The Auk, Vol. IV, 1887,p. 290.)—C. H. M: 
7365-—Ball 2+==11 
