302 
COW BUNTING. 
and placed it in the same cage with a Red Bird, ( Loxia 
cardinalis,) who, at first, and for several minutes after, 
examined it closely, and seemingly with great curiosity. It 
soon became clamorous for food, and from that moment the 
Red Bird seemed to adopt it as his own, feeding it with all the 
assiduity and tenderness of the most affectionate nurse. When 
he found that the grasshopper which he had brought it was too 
large for it to swallow, he took the insect from it, broke it in 
small portions, chewed them a little to soften them, and, with 
all the gentleness and delicacy imaginable, put them separately 
into its mouth. He often spent several minutes in looking at 
and examining it all over, and in picking off any particles 
of dirt that he observed on its plumage. In teaching and 
encouraging it to learn to eat of itself, he often reminded me 
of the lines of Goldsmith, — 
He tried each art, reproved each dull delay, 
Allured to “ fav'rite food,” and led the way. 
This Cow Bird is now six months old ; is in complete 
plumage ; and repays the affectionate services of his foster 
parent with a frequent display of all the musical talents with 
which nature has gifted him. These, it must be confessed, 
are far from being ravishing ; yet, for their singularity, are 
worthy of notice. He spreads his wings, swells his body into 
a globular form, bristling every feather in the manner of a 
turkey cock, and, with great seeming difficulty, utters a few 
low, spluttering notes, as if proceeding from his belly ; always, 
on these occasions, strutting in front of the spectator with 
great consequential affectation. 
To see the Red Bird, who is himself so excellent a per- 
former, silently listening to all this guttural splutter, reminds 
me of the great Handel contemplating a wretched cat-gut 
scraper. Perhaps, however, these may be meant for the notes 
of love and gratitude , which are sweeter to the ear, and dearer 
to the heart, than all the artificial solos or concertos on this 
side heaven. 
