188 
COW BUNTING. 
“ berry tree near my dwelling. One day when the nest was 
“ nearly finished, I discovered a female Cow-bird perched up- 
“ on a fence stake 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, and in five 
‘‘minutes returned and sailed oflf to her companions withseem- 
“ ing delight, which she expressed by her gestures and notes. 
‘ ‘ The Blue-bird soon returned and entered the nest, but instan- 
“ taneously fluttered back with much apparent hesitation, and 
“ perched upon the highest branch of the tree, uttering a rapid- 
“ ly repeated note of complaint and resentment, which soon 
“ brought the male, who reciprocated her feelings by every de- 
“ monstration of the most vindictive resentment. They entered 
“ the nest together and returned several times, uttering their 
“ uninterrupted complaints for ten or fifteen minutes. The male 
“ then darted away to the neighbouring trees as if in quest of 
“ the ofiender, and fell upon a Cat-bird, which he chastised se- 
“ verely, and then turned to an innocent Sparrow that was 
“ chanting its ditty in a peach tree. Notwithstanding the afiront 
“ was so passionately resented, I found the Blue-bird had laid 
‘ ‘ an egg the next day. Perhaps a tenant less attached to a favour- 
“ ite spot would have acted more fastidiously, by deserting the 
“ premises altogether. In this instance, also, I determined to 
“ watch the occurrences that were to follow, but on one of my 
“ morning visits I found the common enemy of the eggs and 
“ young of all the small birds had despoiled the nest, a Coluber 
“ was found coiled in the hollow, and the eggs sucked. 
“ Agreeably to my observation, all the young birds destined 
“ to cherish the young Cow-bird are of a mild and affectionate 
“ disposition; and it is not less remarkable, that they are all 
“ smaller than the intruder; the Blue-bird is the only one nearly 
“ as large. This is a good natured mild creature, although it 
“ makes a vigorous defence when assaulted. The Yellow-throat, 
“ the Sparrow, the Goldfinch, the Indigo-bird, and the Blue- 
“ bird, are the only birds in whose nests I have found the eggs 
