

THE COW BLACKBIRD. 
: BY T. MARTIN TRIPPE. 

Parasitic animals are, for the most part, confined to the 
lower grades of life. Among the Articulates they constitute 
whole groups; they are less numerous in the Radiates and 
Mollusca, and when we arrive at the Vertebrata we find very 
few animals of this nature. Asa general rule, the parasit- 
ism in these higher types is less complete than in the lower 
Species. Of parasitic birds there are very few examples, 
North America possessing but a single species, the well- 
known Molothrus pecoris, whose history we shall briefly 
Sketch. 
The Cow-bird, as it is generally called, is spread over the 
whole continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from 
Mexico to Hudson's Bay. It winters in the Southern States, 
from Virginia southward into Mexico, frequenting the ol 
corn and rice fields, or gathering in small flocks around the 
cattle in pastures. About the middle of March it begins to 
appear in the neighborhood of New York, at first only a few 
appearing in company with the Red-winged and Crow Black- 
birds, but by the end of March or beginning of April, as 
soon as the spring becomes somewhat settled, they become 
abundant. They are now seen in numerous small flocks of 
from five to twenty, of which the females comprise at least. 
two-thirds. These small flocks, or parties, continue in the 
neighborhood of New York until about the middle or end of - 

