COWBIRD— MEADOWLARK 193 



The Cowbird has fittingly been called an outcast 

 among the feathered tribe, on account of its despicable 

 habit of shirking the duties of parenthood and foisting 

 the care of its offspring upon other birds. Like the 

 Old World Cuckoo, the Cowbird watches its oppor- 

 tunity to deposit its egg in the nest of some smaller 

 bird, who usually cares for it in preference to her own 

 eggs and young, though the imposition is sometimes 

 detected and the Cowbird's egg thrown from the nest. 



The plumage of this bird is shining black, with a 

 metallic lustre over the greater part of the body. The 

 head and neck are dark brown. 



The Purple Grackle, or Crow Blackbird, has beau- 

 tifully iridescent plumage of green, blue and black, 

 over the entire body, somewhat duller below than 

 above. This bird breeds in the eastern part of the 

 United States, wintering in the southern part. A 

 noticeable feature in all the Grackles is their bright 

 yellow eyes, which contrast strikingly with their 

 sombre plumage. These birds are said to prey upon 

 the eggs and young of other species. Their notes are 

 harsh and disagreeable. 



A much larger form than the preceding, found 

 principally in the marshes of Florida, is the Boat- 

 tailed Grackle, the general colour of which is bluish or 

 purplish-black, darker on wings and tail. 



The Meadowlark is the most soberly coloured mem- 

 ber of this family, the plumage being a mixture of 

 black, buff and white. The outer tail-feathers are 

 white, forming a conspicuous mark when the bird is 

 on the wing. These birds frequent marshes and 

 meadow-lands, where they blend so well with their 



