COW BUNTING. 197 
tutes also the expression of its pleasure at finding its companions, 
varying only in a more rapidly repeated monotony. The deportment 
of the male, during his promiscuous intercourse with the other sex, 
resembles much that of a pigeon in the same situation. He uses 
nearly the same gestures ; and, by attentively listening, you ‘will hear 
a low, guttural sort of muttering, which is the most agreeable of his 
notes, and not unlike the cooing of a pigeon. 
“This, sir, is the amount of my information on this subject, and is 
no tore than a transcript from my notes made several years ago. 
For ten years past, since I have lived in this city, many of the 
impressions of nature have been effaced, and artificial ideas have 
occupied their places. The pleasure I formerly received in viewing 
and examining the objects of nature are, however, not entirely for- 
gotten; and those which remain, if they can interest you, are entirely 
at your service. With the sincerest wishes for the success of your 
useful and arduous undertaking, I am, dear sir, yours very respect- 
fully, : NaraaniEL Porrer.” 
To the above very interesting detail I shall add the following recent 
fact which fell under my own observation, and conclude my account 
of this singular species. 
In the month of July last, I took from the nest of the Maryland Yellow- 
Throat, which was built among the dry leaves at the root ofa brier bush, 
a young male Cow Bunting, which filled and occupied the whole nest. 
I had previously watched the motions of the foster-parents for more 
than an hour, in order to ascertain whether any more of their young 
were lurking about or not; and was fully satisfied that there were 
none. They had, in all probability, perished in the manner before 
mentioned. I took this bird home with me, and placed it in the same 
cage with a Red-Bird, (Zozia cardinalis,) who, at first, and for several 
minutes after, examined it closely, and seemingly with great curiosity. 
It soon became clamorous for food, and from that moment the Red- 
Bird seemed to adopt it as his own, feeding it with all the assiduity 
and tenderness of the most affectionate nurse. When he found that 
the grasshopper which he had brought it was too large for it to swallow, 
he took the insect from it, broke it in small portions, chewed them a 
little to soften them, and, with all the gentleness and delicacy imagi- 
nable, put them separately into its mouth. He often spent several 
minutes in looking at and examining it all over, and in picking off any 
particles of dirt that he observed on its plumage. In teaching and 
encouraging it to learn to eat of itself, he often reminded me of the 
lines of Goldsmith, — 
He tried each art, reproved each dull delay, 
Allured to “ favorite food,” and led the way. 
This Cow Bird is now six months old; is in complete plumage; 
and repays the affectionate services of his foster-parent with a fre- 
quent display of all’the musical talents with which nature has gifted 
him. These, it must be confessed, are far from being ravishing; yet, 
for their singularity, are worthy of notice. He spreads his wings, 
swells his body into a globular form, bristling every feather in the 
17* 
