180 THE COWBIRD. 
relate what I have seen in the country where I was spending 
a few days in March, 1879. 
It was at the Hacienda de Tupataro in the southwestern 
part of the State of Guanajuato. We were sitting on the 
veranda, when we saw an immense flock of these birds, 
All the persons present, who were well acquainted with the 
country, calculated that the column was about 12,009 yards 
long; its width about five yards, and its depth one. Each 
bird is about seven inches long and the spread wings meas- 
ure thirteen inches from tip to tip. As they fly close to 
each other it is reasonable to suppose that the column 
numbered nine or ten millions of birds. Of course such 
great numbers are rarely seen together; but I have often 
seen flocks numbering from one to two thousand, and that 
several times a day. 
I am one of those who think insectivorous birds ought to 
be protected as well as reptiles and batrachians ; but I have 
my doubts about the Cowbird 
