cow BUNTING 



161 



To the above very interesting detail I shall add the following 

 recent fact which fell under my own observation, and conclude my 

 account of this singular species. 



In the month of July last I took from the nest of the Mary- 

 land Yellow-throat, which was built among the dry leaves at the 

 root of a briar bush, a young male Cow Bunting, which filled and 

 occupied the whole nest. I had previously watched the motions of 

 the foster parents for more than an hour, in order to ascertain whe- 

 ther any more of their young were lurking about or not; and was 

 fully satisfied that there were none. They had in all probability 

 perished in the manner before mentioned. I took this bird home 

 with me, and placed it in the same cage with a Red-bird (Loxia 

 cardinalis), who, at first, and for several minutes after, examined it 

 closely, and seemingly with great curiosity. It soon became cla- 

 morous 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 grasshop- 

 per 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 ima- 

 ginable put them separately into its mouth. He often spent seve- 

 ral minutes in looking at and examining it all over, and in picking 

 off any particles of dirt that he observed on its plumage. In teach- 

 ing and encouraging it to learn to eat of itself, he often reminded 

 me of the lines of Goldsmith, 



He tried each art, reprov'd each dull delay, 

 Allur'd to "fav'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 



VOL. II. s s 



