296 COW BUNTING. 



nest of a yellow-throat, with an egg of each. Knowing the 

 precise time of deposit, I noted the spot and date with a view 

 of determining a question of importance, — the time required 

 to hatch the egg of the cow bird, which I supposed to com- 

 mence from the time of the 3 T ellow-throat's laying the last 

 egg. A few days after, the nest was removed, I knew not how, 

 and I was disappointed. In the progress of the cow bird along 

 the creek's side, she entered the thick boughs of a small cedar, 

 and returned several times before she could prevail on her- 

 self to quit the place ; and upon examination, I found a spar- 

 row sitting on its nest, on which she no doubt would have 

 stolen in the absence of the owner. It is, I believe, certain, 

 that the cowpen finch never makes a forcible entry upon the 

 premises, by attacking other birds and ejecting them from 

 their rightful tenements, although they are all perhaps inferior 

 in strength, except the blue bird, which, although of a mild 

 as well as affectionate disposition, makes a vigorous resistance 

 when assaulted. Like most other tyrants and thieves, they 

 are cowardly, and accomplish by stealth what they cannot 

 obtain by force. 



" The deportment of the yellow-throat on this occasion is 

 not to be omitted. She returned while I waited near the 

 spot, and darted into her nest, but returned immediately and 

 perched upon a bough near the place, remained a minute or 

 two, and entered it again, returned, and disappeared. In ten 

 minutes she returned with the male. They chattered with 

 great agitation for half an hour, seeming to participate in the 

 affront, and then left the place. I believe all the birds thus 

 intruded on manifest more or less concern at finding the egg 

 of a stranger in their own nests. Among these, the sparrow 

 is particularly punctilious ; for she sometimes chirps her com- 

 plaints for a day or two, and often deserts the premises 

 altogether, even after she has deposited one or more eggs. 

 The following anecdote will show, not only that the cowpen 

 finch insinuates herself slyly into the nests of other birds, but 

 that even the most pacific of them will resent the insult. A 



