2Q2 COW BUNTING. 



bable cause ; but all of them that have occurred to me are 

 unsatisfactory and inconsistent. Future and more numerous 

 observations, made with care, particularly in those countries 

 where they most usually pass the summer, may throw more 

 light on this matter ; till then, we can only rest satisfied with 

 the reality of the fact. 



This species winters regularly in the lower parts of North 

 and South Carolina and Georgia; I have also met with them 

 near Williamsburg, and in several other parts of Virginia. 

 In January 1809, I observed strings of them for sale in the 

 market of Charleston, South Carolina. They often frequent 

 corn and rice fields, in company with their cousins, as Mr 

 Bar tram calls them, the red-winged blackbirds ; but are more 

 commonly found accompanying the cattle, feeding on the seeds, 

 worms, &c, which they pick up amongst the fodder and from 

 the excrements of the cattle, which they scratch up for this 

 purpose. Hence they have pretty generally obtained the name 

 of coicpen birds, cow birds, or cow blackbirds. By the natu- 

 ralists of Europe they have hitherto been classed with the 

 finches; though improperly, as they have no family resem- 

 blance to that tribe sufficient to justify that arrangement. 

 If we are to be directed by the conformation of their bill, 

 nostrils, tongue, and claws, we cannot hesitate a moment in 

 classing them with the red-winged blackbirds, oriolus 

 phamiceus ; not, however, as orioles, but as buntings, or 

 some new intermediate genus ; the notes or dialect of the 

 cow bunting and those of the redwings, as well as some other 

 peculiarities of voice and gesticulation, being strikingly 

 similar. 



Respecting this extraordinary bird, I have received commu- 

 nications from various quarters, all corroborative of the fore- 

 going particulars. Among these is a letter from Dr Potter 

 of Baltimore, which, as it contains some new and interest- 

 ing facts, and several amusing incidents, illustrative of the 

 character of the bird, I shall with pleasure lay before the 

 reader, apologising to the obliging writer for a few unimpor- 



