302 



COW BUNTING. 



cardinalis), who, at first, and for several minutes after, ex- 

 amined it closely, and seemingly with great curiosity. It soon 

 became clamorous for food, and from that moment the red 

 bird seemed to adopt it as his own, feeding it with all the 

 assiduity and tenderness of the most affectionate nurse. When 

 he found that the grasshopper which he had brought it was too 

 large for it to swallow, he took the insect from it, broke it in 

 small portions, chewed them a little to soften them, and with 

 all the gentleness and delicacy imaginable, put them separately 

 into its mouth. He often spent several minutes in looking at 

 and examining it all over, and picking off any particles of dirt 

 that he observed on its plumage. In teaching and encourag- 

 ing it to learn to eat of itself, he often reminded me of the 

 lines of Goldsmith — 



He tried each art, reproved each dull delay, 

 Allured to " j "av 'rite food '," and led the way. 



This cow bird is now six months old, is in complete 

 plumage, and repays the affectionate services of his foster 

 parent with a frequent display of all the musical talents with 

 which nature has gifted him. These, it must be confessed, 

 are far from being ravishing, yet, for their singularity, are 

 worthy of notice. He spreads his wings, swells his body into 

 a globular form, bristling every feather in the manner of a 

 turkey cock, and, with great seeming difficulty, utters a few 

 low, spluttering notes, as if proceeding from his belly; always, 

 on these occasions, strutting in front of the spectator with 

 great consequential affectation. 



To see the red bird, who is himself so excellent a performer, 

 silently listening to all this guttural splutter, reminds me of 

 the great Handel contemplating a wretched catgut scraper. 

 Perhaps, however, these may be meant for the notes of love 

 and gratitude, which are sweeter to the ear and dearer to the 

 heart than all the artificial solos or concertos on this side 

 heaven. 



The length of this species is seven inches ; breadth, eleven 



