208 THE COW-BIRD. 



The plumage of the female is in most respects like that of 

 the male, except that she is not possessed of the brilliant 

 feathers on the throat which especially distinguish him. 



Although there are several other species of humming-birds 

 which live permanently in the Southern States of the Union, 

 or migrate northward in summer, we cannot now inspect them. 

 We shall have, however, many opportunities of examining a 

 number of the species when we come to visit South America. 

 Although the number of birds and the variety of their species 

 inhabiting North America is very great, except those we have 

 mentioned, they do not in general possess any very interest- 

 ing peculiarity, which might tempt us to linger longer amongst 

 them, and we will therefore wander on and inspect some of 

 the curious reptiles which inhabit various parts of the Ameri- 

 can States and Canada. 



THE COW-BIRD. 



The well-known spring visitor to the woods of England, — ■ 

 the cuckoo, — is undoubtedly destitute of family affection, as 

 are others of its relatives ; but this is not the case with 

 the whole tribe. As the spring advances, from the sylvan 

 glades of Pennsylvania a curious note, constantly repeated, is 

 heard, resembling the word " cow-cow." It is the note of a 

 bird, and from the sound it resembles it is generally known as 

 the " cow-bird." It is also called the "yellow-billed cuckoo." 

 rt is in no respect behind any of its neighbours of the grove in 

 conjugal and parental affection, for it builds its nest, hatches 

 its own eggs, and rears its own young, Wilson assures us. It 

 is about a foot in length, clothed in a dark drab suit with a 

 silken greenish gloss. A ruddy cinnamon tints the quill- 

 feathers of the wings ; and the tail consists partly of black 



