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OUR SOUTHERN BIRDS 



are already placed, but take upon themselves the 



extra task of hatching and rearing the young 



Cowbird. 



The interloper, being larger than the rightful 



nestlings, demands more food and more of the 



parent bird's attention, 

 so that the others suf- 

 fer and may even be 

 starved by its greed. 



It is believed that 

 no regular mating takes 

 place among the Cow- 

 birds; in short, they 

 know no family tie. 

 Appropriately, they are 



songless. They are oftenest seen walking about 



singly or in promiscuous groups among cows in 



the pasture, whence the name. 



MOCKING BIRD 



It seems that with all the interest that has 

 been shown by American poets in this brother 

 of the open, some one of them might have taken 

 pains to find a name for him that should better 

 express his personality. Mocking Bird is not 

 pretty, and besides he is so much more than a 

 mere mocker; the imitations he puts into his 

 rich, sweet, wonderful medley are the least part 

 of its variety and charm. And not all the indi- 



COWBIRD 



Length 7% inches 



