guttural and croaking notes, which are accompanied by all kinds of comical motions. 

 They stretch their legs, spread their wings and tail, lower and raise their heads, turn 

 their neck, and make the imp^ression as if these notes were produced with much trouble. 

 Mr. H. D. Minot gives the following excellent description of the Cowbird's musical per- 

 formance, which fully corresponds with my own observations : 



"There is something ludicrous, and yet pitiable, in the efforts of the male to 

 express his passions musically. It is often as painful to hear him and see him, as to 

 converse with one who stutters badly. He ruffles his feathers, spreads his wings and 

 tail, gives a convulsive movement to his body, and yet produces nothing but a shrill, 

 unmusical clack-seS. He often adds to this, or splutters out at other times, a chattering 

 call, quite distinct from that of any other bird, or utters a few low guttural notes, not 

 audible at a distance. He has in common with other members of his family a loud 

 chuck; but he is not wholly destitute of musical powers. One may often hear in spring 

 from the top of some tree, a clear, pensive, but rather shrill whistle, usually followed 

 by a few similar but falling notes. These belong to the Cowbird, who also whistles 

 sometimes as he takes to wing." 



During the breeding season the Cowbirds are always found where many small 

 insectivorous birds occur, particularly on the borders of woods, near gardens, in pastures, 

 near thickets and bushes. There are usually about one third females and two thirds 

 males in the flocks. They live in. polyandry and polygamy and the male pays his court 

 to several females, or one female is courted by several males. "Polygamy," says 

 Dr. Elliott Coues, "is rare among higher birds; in no creatures are the parental and 

 conjugal instincts more strongly developed or beautifully displayed. But the Cowbird 

 illustrates this mode of life, and not in the lordly manner of the barn-yard cock, so 

 devoted to his harem, so gallant and just to all. As in this species there is no love of 

 offspring, neither can there be conjugal aifection; all family ties are dispensed with. 

 The association is a mere herding together in quest of food in similar resorts. The 

 Cowbirds never mate; their most intimate relations are no sooner effected than for- 

 gotten; not even the decent restrictions of a seraglio are observed; it is a perfect 

 community of free-lovers, who do as the original Cynics did. The necessary courtship 

 becomes in consequence a curiously mixed affiair. During the period corresponding to the 

 mating season of orderly birds, the patriarchs of the sorry crew mount up the trees and 

 fences, to do what they call their singing. They posture and turn about, and ruffle 

 their feathers to look bigger than Nature made them ; if their skins were not tough they 

 would certainly burst with vanity. They puff out their throats and pipe the most 

 singular notes, perhaps honestly wishing to please their companions of the other sex — 

 at any rate, to their own satisfaction. Meanwhile the females are perched near by, but 

 without seeming very enthusiastic — rather taking it all as a matter of course, listening 

 at times, it may be, but just as likely preening their plumage, with other thoughts and 

 an ulterior purpose. The performance over, it is a very little while afterward when the 

 whole band goes trooping after food in the nearest cattle-yard or pasture." 



It is very interesting to observe the female Cowbird, ready to lay. She becomes 

 uneasy and restless. Quietly and stealthily she leaves the flock, sallying forth to 

 reconnoitre, "anxiously indeed, for her case is urgent, and she has no home. How 



