l8o 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 fiock of these birds. 

 All the persons present, who were well acquainted with the 

 country, calculated that the column was about 12,000 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 



