cow BUNTING. 
187 
egg of each. Knowing the precise time of deposit, I noted 
“ the spot and date which a view of determining a question of 
“ importance, the time required to hatch the egg of the Cow- 
‘‘ bird, which I supposed to commence from the time of the 
“Yellow-throat’s laying the last egg. A few days after, the 
“ nest was removed I knew not how, and I was disappointed. 
“ In the progress of the Cow-bird along the creek’s side she en- 
“ tered the thick boughs of a small cedar, and returned several 
“ times before she could prevail on herself to quit the place; 
“and upon examination, I found a Sparrow sitting on its nest, 
“ on which she no doubt would have stolen in the absence of 
“ the owner. It is, I believe certain, that the Cow-pen finch 
“ never makes a forcible entry upon the premises by attacking 
“ other birds and ejecting them from their rightful tenements, 
“ although they are all perhaps inferior in strength, except the 
“ Blue-bird, which, although of a mild as well as affectionate 
“ dispositon, makes a vigorous resistance when assaulted. Like 
“ most other tyrants and thieves they are cowardly, and accom- 
“plish by stealth what they cannot obtain by force. 
“ The deportment of the Yellow-throat on this occasion is not 
“to be omitted. She returned while I waited near the spot, and 
“ darted into her nest, but returned immediately and perched 
“ upon a bough 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 agi- 
“ tation for half an hour seeming to participate in the affront, 
“ 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 par- 
“ticularly 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 folio w- 
“ing anecdote will show not only that the Cow-pen finch in- 
“ sinuates herself slily into the nests of other birds, but that even 
“ the most pacific of them will resent the insult. A Blue-bird 
“ had built for three successive seasons in the cavity of a mul- 
