cow BUNTENG. 
185 
“ In autumn we often find them congregated with the marsh 
‘ ‘ Blackbirds, committing their common depredations upon the 
‘^ears of the Indian corn; and at other seasons the similarity of 
“ their pursuits in feeding introduces them into the same com- 
“ pany. I could never observe that they would keep the com- 
“ pany of any other bird. 
“The Cow-pen 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 any thing pairing or 
“ a mutual attachment between the sexes. Even in the season of 
“ love, when other birds are separated into pairs, and occupied 
‘ ‘ in the endearing otfice of providing a receptacle for their off- 
“ spring, the Fringillae are seen feeding in odd as well as even 
“ numbers, from one to twenty, and discovering no more disposi- 
“ tion towards perpetuating their species than birds of any other 
“ species at other seasons, excepting a promiscuous concubinage 
“which pervades the whole 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 tender- 
“ ness that so eminently characterizes the males of other birds. 
“The male proffers the same civilities to any female indiscrim- 
“ inately, and they are reciprocated accordingly, without exci- 
“ ting either resentment or jealousy in any of the party. This 
“ want of sexual attachment is not inconsistent with the gene- 
“ ral 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. 
“ to produce much disease is problematical, their superabundance at this sea- 
“ son cannot be denied. The larv£B of several species are deposited in the ve- 
“ getables when green, and the cattle are fed on them as fodder in winter. 
“ This furnishes the principal inducement for the bird to follow the cattle in 
“ spring, when the aperient effects of the green grasses evacuates great num- 
“ bers of worms. At this season the pecoris often stuffs its crop with them till 
“ it can contain no more. There are several species, but the most numerous 
“ is a small white one similar to, if not the same as, the ascaris of the human 
“species.” 
VOL. II. A a 
