161 



495. Molothrus ater (Bodd.). [258.] Cowhird. 



A com mon breeder throughout the Mississippi Valley and Manitoba. In 

 winter flocks abouud in the Southern States, extending north to southern 

 Illinois in the east, and in the west to the central part of Indian Territory. 

 At San Angelo, Tex., it was reported as resident, a few remainingin win- 

 ter, but most of them going south. On asking Mr. Lloyd whether he was 

 sure it was M. ater that nested there, he replied that its identification as 

 the typical bird was positive, and that he had found their eggs from May 

 1 to June 10 in nests of the Orchard Oriole, Nonpareil, Bell's Vireo, etc.* 

 In this he agrees with Mr. Nehrling, who makes the same statement 

 concerning its breeding at Houston, Tex. In Indian Territory, at 

 Caddo, they were quite common throughout the winter of 1883-'84, but 

 all the birds were either females or males in the garb of the female ; no 

 bright males were seen until January 17, and no flocks of males until 

 January 19. The bulk of males came January 22; the bulk of the 

 species left February 22, and the last disappeared March 24. At Saint 

 Louis, in the spring of 1884, the first came March 17, but only a few 

 were seen. At Carlinviile, 111., some were seen March 31, and at Bur- 

 lington, Iowa, April 7. So far the dates probably represent somewhat 

 nearly the actual movements of the species. Then came the severe and 

 widespread snow-storms of the early part of April, as a result of which 

 only one record north of Burlington was made previous to April 16, but 

 when the records began again they were so thoroughly and hopelessly 

 contradictory that it is useless to attempt to reconcile them. All that 

 can be said is that " firsts n came to stations between the parallels of 

 41° and 45° all the way from April 16 to May 15, being quoted frcin 

 latitude 45°, April 16, and from latitude 41°, May 15, with all intermedi- 

 ate dates between. The first was recorded from Argusville, Dak., May 

 9. There seems to be an error in the date (April 14) given from Oak 

 Point, Manitoba. The female of the Red-winged Blackbird was marked 

 as coming the same day, and possibly was mistaken for it. 



In the fall of 1884 the last migrant was seen at Mount Carmel, Mo., 

 September 20. 



In the spring of 1885 the records from stations east of the Mississippi 

 River were too irregular for use. From those farther west the follow- 

 ing may be selected as giving an approximate idea of the time of migra- 

 tion. The first were noted at San Angelo, Tex., March 6; hundreds 

 were seen at Bonham, Tex., March 23 ; the first was reported from Saint 

 Louis, Mo., March 30; Des Moines, Iowa, April 10 j Waukon, Iowa, 

 April 21; Lanestoro, Minn., April 23; Heron Lake, Minn., April 28; 

 Argusville, Dak., May 4; Shell River, Manitoba, May 14. In the fall 

 of 1885 the last Cowbird at Grinnell, Iowa, was seen November 1 ; at 

 Saint Louis, Mo., the last flock was seen October 30 ; at Bonham, Tex.,, 

 the first migrants appeared October 14. 



* In a recent paper on the birds of western Texas Mr. Lloyd gives this species as a 

 spring and fall migrant, and the Dwarf Cowbird as the form which breeds there. 

 (The Auk, Vol. IV, 1887,p. 290.)— C. H. M, 

 7365—Bull 2— U 



