212 
ICTERUS PECORIS. 
altlioRgh of a mild as well as affectionate disposition, 
makes a vigorous resistance when assaulted. Like 
most other tyi*auts and thieves, they are cowardly, 
and accomplish by stealth what they cannot obtain by 
force. 
“ The deportment of the yeUow-throat on this occa- 
sion is not to be omitted. She retnrned while 1 waited 
near the spot, and darted into her nest, hut returned 
immediately, and perched upon a hough near the place, 
remained a minute or two, and entered it again, 
returned, and disappeared. In ten minutes she returned 
with the male. They chattered with great agitation 
for half an hour, seeming to participate in the aftront, 
and then left the place. I believe all the birds thus 
intruded on manifest more or less concern at finding 
the egg of a stranger in their own nests. Among 
these, the sparrow is particularly punctilious ; for she 
sometimes chirps her complaints for a day or two, and 
often deserts the premises altogether, even after she 
has deposited one or more eggs. . The following anec- 
dote will shew not only that the cow-pen finch insinuates 
herself slyly into the nests of other birds, but that even 
the inost pacific of them will resent the insult : A 
bluebird had built for three successive sca.sous in the 
cavity of a mulberry tree near my dwellino. One day, 
when the nest was nearly finished, I discovered a female 
cow bird perched upon a fence stidie near it, with her 
eyes apparently fixed upon the spot, while the builder 
was busy in adjusting her nest. The moment she left 
it, the intruder darted into it, aud, in live minutes, 
returned, and sailed off to her companions with seeming 
delight, which she expressed by her gestures and notes. 
The bluebird soon returned, and entered the nest, 
but instantaneously fluttered back with much apparent 
hesitation, and perched upon the highest branch of the 
tree, uttering a rapidly repeated note of complaint and 
resentment, which soon brought the male, who recipro- 
cated her feelings by every demonstration of the most 
vindictive resentment. They entered the nest together, 
and returned several times, uttering their uninterrupted 
