434 LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMEEICAN BIRDS. 



is almost hidden, the markings being nearly evenly distributed in the shape of 

 large blotches over the entire surface of the egg. In the majority, however, 

 the darker markings are mainly confined to the larger end of the egg, while the 

 paler ones are more noticeable in the middle and about the smaller end. 



The average measurement of seventy-seven specimens in the United States 

 National Museum collection is 21.08 by 15.71 millimetres, or 0.83 by 0.62 inch. 

 The largest egg in this, series measures 22.35 by 16.26 millimetres, or 0.88 by 

 0.64 inch; the smallest, 17.53 by 15.24 millimetres, or 0.69 by 0.60 inch. 



The type specimen, No. 25338 (PI. 6, Fig. 1), from a set of five eggs, 

 Ralph collection, was taken on Shelter Island, New York, June 8, 1882, and 

 represents one of the heaviest marked eggs of the series; and No. 25740 (PI. 6, 

 Fig. 2), from a set of five eggs, taken by Mr. E. A. Mcllhemiy, on Petite Anse 

 Island, Louisiana, on April 9, 1892, represents one of the paler-colored speci- 

 mens in the series. 



170. Molothrus ater (Boddaert) 



COWBIRD. 



Oriolus ater Boddaebt, Table des planches enlumin^es d'histoire naturelle, 1783, 37. 

 Molothrus ater Gray, Hand List of Birds, II, 1870, 36. 



(B 400, 211, R 258, C 313, U 495.) 



Geographical range : United States and the southern parts of the Dominion of 

 Canada, in the eastern portions to about latitude 49° N.; in the interior to Little Slave 

 Lake, southern Athabasca, latitude 55° 30', and probably still farther north ; west to British 

 Columbia, eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, Nevada, and southeastern California; south 

 in winter to southern Mexico. 



The breeding range of the Cowbird, also known as "Cow Bunting," "Cow 

 Blackbird," "Shinyeye," "Blackbird," "Lazy Bird," "Clodhopper," and in former 

 years on the plains as "Buffalo Bird," extends from our Southern States, excepting 

 Florida, southern and western Texas, north into the southern parts of the Domin- 

 ion of Canada. Westward its breeding range extends to eastern British Colum- 

 bia, eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, Nevada, and probably southeastern 

 Cahfomia, where Dr. A. K. Fisher shot an adult male at Fiirnace Creek, in 

 Death Valley, June 20, 1891. East of the Rocky Mountains the Cowbird is 

 pretty generally distributed over the greater part of its range, excepting the 

 extensive forest regions and some of the more southern States, where it appears 

 to occur only sparingly. Its center of abundance is found in the States bor- 

 dering the Upper Mississippi River and its numerous tributaries. West of the 

 one hundi-ed and thirteenth meridian (Greenwich), in the United States at least, 

 it must be considered as. a rare summer visitor, and, as far as I have been able 

 to ascertain, it has not yet been found anywhere on the Pacific Coast west of 

 the Cascade and the Sierra Nevada mountains except as a straggler. In the 

 southern portions of the Provinces of Alberta and Assiniboia, Dominion of Can- 

 ada, as far west as Calgary, I found this species remarkably abundant in the 



