HABITS OF THE COW BIRD. 
327 
parties, generally accompanied by the red-winged starling, wdiich bird will soon be described. 
Towards the middle or end of October, the Cow Birds begin to leave the place of their tem- 
porary residence, and again assembling in flocks, together with the red-winged starling, take 
their departure for their winter quarters in Carolina and Georgia. While remaining in the 
country, they are generally seen near streams, perched on the trees that skirt rivers and creeks. 
It is a rather curious fact that during the months of July and August, the Cow Troopials sud- 
denly vanish, and are not seen again till September, when they make their appearance in con- 
siderable numbers. Whether they take a journey during that time, or whether retire into the 
depths of the forest, is not clearly ascertained. 
Unlike the generality of birds, the Cow Bird seems to be actuated by no attachment to 
those of the opposite sex. Ho pairing has yet been observed, nor does the male bird take pos- 
session of a number of females, as is the case with many species. Indeed, there would be no 
need for such an alliance, for the female Cow Bird makes no nest, neither does she trouble 
COW TROOPIAL. — Molobras pecoris. 
herself about rearing her young, but searching out for the nest of some little bird, she deposits 
her own egg among the number, and then leaves it to its fate. The remarkable feature in the 
matter is, that the poor bird on whom this intruder has been foisted invariably takes charge 
of it in preference to its own offspring, and will always rear the young Cow Bird, even though 
the whole of its own offspring perish. 
There seems to be in the Cow Bird an irresistible attractive power, forcing other birds to 
take charge of it and attend to its wants. This supposition is strengthened by the conduct of 
a cardinal grosbeak, kept by Wilson, into whose cage was introduced a young Cow Bird just 
taken out of the nest of a Maryland yellow throat. At first, the grosbeak examined the 
intruder with some reserve, but as soon as the stranger began to cry for food, the grosbeak took it 
under its protection, tended it carefully, brought it food, tore large insects to pieces in order to 
suit the capacity of the young bird’s mouth, cleaned its plumage, taught it to feed itself, and 
exhibited towards it all a mother’s care. Wilson writes as follows, after describing the singular 
habits of this bird : — 
“ From twelve to fourteen days is the usual time of incubation with our small birds ; but, 
although I cannot fix the precise period requisite for the Cow Bunting’s eggs, I think I can 
almost positively say that it it is a day or two less than the shortest of the above-mentioned 
