IIS 
BEAUTIFUL BIKDS. 
Mr. Nuttall says that, in 1831, he saw a hen red- 
eyed Ely-catcher sitting on two eggs, and one of the 
Cow-hird ; and that the Yireosylva olivacea of Buona- 
parte appears to be its most usual nurse. He states 
that this Vireo has sometimes begun her incubation 
with only an egg of each kind, while in other nests he 
has seen as many as three eggs of the Yireo, as well as 
that laid by the Cow-bird : he suggests, in explanation, 
that, from the largeness of the egg, the nest probably 
immediately feels full to the incubating bird, so as to 
lead her to sit directly, when the larger egg, being 
brought nearer to the body of the nimse than her 
own, is first hatched, generally, as he believes, on the 
twelfth or thirteenth day. The legitimate eggs are 
hatched about a day later, and the young are often 
stifled by the superior size of the stranger, which is 
affectionately nursed by the poor dupe of a dam. 
AYhen the young are dead, they are conveyed to a dis- 
tance by the parent, and dropped ; but they are never 
found immediately below the nest, which would be the 
case if they were ejected by the young Cow-bird, — as 
is done by the young Cuckoo. Indeed, so far as Mr. 
Xuttall had the opportunity of obsening, the found- 
ling shows no hostility to the natural brood of his 
nurses ; but he nearly takes up their whole attention, 
and early displays his characteristic cries and self- 
possession. When fully fledged they quickly desert 
their foster-parent, and skulk about in the woods, 
until at length tliey instinctively join company with 
those of the same feather ; and now, becoming more 
bold, are seen in parties of five or six, in the fields 
and lanes, gleaning their accustomed subsistence. 
