COW BUNTING. 
77 
" In autumn we often find them congregated with the Marsh Black- 
birds, committing their common depredations upon the ears of the In- 
dian corn ; and at other seasons the similarity of their pursuits in feeding 
introduces them into the same company. I could never observe that 
they would keep the company of any other bird. 
" The Cowpen finch differs moreover in another respect from all the 
birds with which I am acquainted. After an observance of many years 
I could never discover anything like pairing or a mutual attachment 
between the sexes. Even in the season of love, when other birds arc 
separated into pairs, and occupied in the endearing office of providing 
a receptacle for their offspring, the Fringillae are seen feeding in odd as 
well as even numbers, from one to twenty, and discovering no more dis- 
position towards perpetuating their species than birds of any other spe- 
cies at other seasons, excepting a promiscuous concubinage which per- 
vades the Avhole tribe. When the female separates from the company, 
her departure is not noticed ; no gallant partner accompanies her, .nor 
manifests any solicitude in her absence; nor is her return greeted by 
that gratulatory tenderness that so eminently characterizes the males 
of other birds. The male proffers the same civilities to any female in- 
discriminately, and they are reciprocated accordingly, without exciting 
either resentment or jealousy in any of the party. This want of sexual 
attachment is not inconsistent with the general economy of this singular 
bird; for as they are neither their own architect, nor nurse of their 
own young, the degree of attachment that governs others would be 
superfluous. 
" That the Fringilla never builds a nest for itself you may assert 
without the hazard of a refutation. I once offered a premium for the 
nest, and the negroes in the neighborhood brought me a variety of nests, 
but they were always traced to some other bird. The time of deposit- 
ing their eggs is from the middle of April to the last of May, or nearly 
so ; corresponding with the season of laying observed by the small birds, 
on whose property it encroaches. It never deposits but one egg in the 
same nest, and this is generally after the rightful tenant begins to 
deposit hers, but never I believe after she has commenced the process 
of incubation. It is impossible to say how many they lay in a season, 
unless they could be watched when confined in an aviary. 
" By a minute attention to a number of these birds when they feed in 
a particular field in the laying season, the deportment of the female, 
when the time of laying draws near, becomes particularly interesting. 
bird to follow the cattle in spring, when tin 1 aperient effect of the green grasses 
evacuates great numbers of worms. At this season the peeoris often stuffs its crop 
with them till it can contain no more. There are several species, hut the most 
numerous is a small white one similar to, if not the same as, the ancaris of the hu- 
man species." 
