286 
ICTERUS PECORIS. 
13 . ICTERUS PECORIS. 
THE COW-PEN BIRD. COW BUNTING OF WILSON. 
AUDUBON, PLATE XCIX. MALE AND FEMALE. 
As preliminary to his amusing- account of this b' 1 ^ 
Audubon beautifully remarks : — •- 
“ The works of nature are evidently perfect in all t" .,i 
parts. 
r From the manifestations of consummate skjj | 
everywhere displayed, we must infer that the inteh'-', 
which planned the grand scheme, is infinite in p<>"<’ 1 ’ 
and even when wo observe parts or objects which , 
us seem unnecessary, superfluous, or useless, it "'oU 
be more consistent with the ideas which we ought 
have of our own feeble apprehension, to consider tk* j 
as still perfect, to have been formed for a purpose, il1 ' 
to execute their intended function, than to view tb c 
as abortive and futile attempts. 
“ The seed is dropped on the ground. It imh'P , 
moisture, swells, and its latent principle of life receiver 
an impulse, slowly unfolds. Its radicle shoots do 1 ' 
into the earth, its plumule rises toward the sky. * , t , 
first leaflets appear, and, as we watch its progress, " , 
see it assuming size and strength. Years pass on, 3, () 
it still enlarges. It produces (loners and fruits, ;l11 
gives shelter to multitudes of animated beings, 
length, it stands the glory of the forest, sprea' 
M 
.dil 
abroad its huge arms, covering with its dense 
the wild animals that retreat to it for protection 
the sun and the rain. Centuries after its birth: 
stately tree rears its green head to the sky. 
symptoms of decay begin to manifest themselves. 
branches wither, the core dies and putrefies, riw 
and shaggy lichens cover its trunk and limbs. ' . 
woodpecker resorts to it for the purpose of procu 1-1 jjfc 
the insects which find shelter beneath its decayed ba*^. 
Blackness spreads over the heavens, the mutterifl? 
the thunder is heard. Suddenly there comes on 
ear the bickering noise of the whirlwind, which scau e 
