Jan. 1890. j 
AND OOLOGrIST. 
A Very Peculiar Bird. 
date fully constructed nests of the right 
species are rather scarce. 
A very strange bird, one whose peculiarity 
in never building a nest of its own is known to 
all oologists, is the Cowbird, or as otherwise 
known to many, the Cow Bunting, Cowpen 
bird and Cow Blackbird, and scientifically as 
Mqlothrus ajer (Bodd.) Gray. Although a fa" 
miliar bird to almost all of those who study 
the avian fauna of North America, and classed 
as a common species in nearly all portions of 
the United States, it is, nevertheless, but little 
understood by students of bird life, and those 
devoted to the elucidation of the enigmas 
which arise so often to startle and perplex us. 
Thinking a few remarks on this familiar spe- 
cies would not come amiss, the writer offers 
the present article, trusting at least to cause 
some to investigate and give extra information 
on the peculiarities of the breeding habits of 
this interesting and apparently unnatural bird. 
Several years ago my attention was drawn to 
the fact that the number of eggs laid by the 
Cow Bunting was not given in any work that I 
had mot with, and further, that many habits 
peculiar to the species were not understood, or 
at least but partially comprehended. The fol- 
lowing queries ultimately suggested themselves 
after considerable thought, namely: 1. What 
is the number of eggs laid by the Cowbird in a 
clutch? 2. Does the Cowbird use judgment 
in depositing eggs as to number, in accordance 
to size of nest invaded or the number of eggs 
to be laid by the rightful owner? 3. Does the 
Cowbird usually select nests that already con- 
tain egg or eggs of the owner, and when empty 
nests are selected is it done because the Cow- 
bird is pressed for time and cannot find another 
nest? 4. Is the Cowbird polygamous? 5. Is 
the Cowbird as secret about invading the nest 
of another bird as generally supposed? 6. Does 
the Cowbird ever assume the duties of a par- 
ent by incubating its hopes of future posterity, 
or, later, supply its own offspring with food? 
7. What is the period of incubation, if we can 
so express it, when represented by the devotion 
of the rightful owner of the nest to the alien 
eggs? Lastly will the imposed on owner of 
the nest hatch several alien eggs when there 
are none of her own in the nest? 
In Michigan where the writer’s observations 
have been mainly made during the last twenty 
years, the Cowbird has appeared on an average 
March 29tli, the earliest arrival being March 
16th, and the latest April 9tli. About May 
10th the birds are prepared to drop eggs into 
almost any inviting nest. Previous to that j 
Prom May 1.5tli, when the smaller species are 
prepared for household duties, to July 1st, the 
Cow Bunting is ever on the qui vive to surprise 
owners of homes with the unwelcome dona- 
tions. At the time of arrival only males are 
seen, and it is fair to say that the females 
arrive about four days later. On pleasant, 
sunshiny days both sexes may be seen sitting 
in lazy contentment along fences or in the 
trees, the males endeavoring to effect their 
unmusical splreele, uttered in a drawling 
manner. At this time the feathers are ruffled 
up about the neck, the bird appearing much 
like the Red-Wing Blackbird in his actions. 
There is also a call note, uttered by both sexes 
sounding like squeak. The species is emi- 
nently gregarious from the time it arrives 
until it departs, the two sexes appearing to be 
about equal in numbers excepting during the 
active season of laying when the females are 
undoubtedly occupied hunting around for 
asylums wherein to deposit their eggs. At 
this time the males predominate in numbers 
and may be easily identified, as their glossy 
coats form a marked contrast to the dull 
brown of their companion’s apparel. In late 
May and June the males appear to outrank the 
females in about the proportion of three to 
two. Later in the season when the young are 
associated with the adults and after moulting 
is over the sombre coats prevail. 
The Cowbirds are gregarious during the 
entire season, but are more inclined to con- 
gregate during spring and after moulting, 
often associating with large flocks of the Rusty 
Crackles, and occasionally with the common 
Crow, Blackbirds and Redwings during au- 
tumn. They usually fly in flocks of five to 
eight during breeding season, but may be 
found in flocks of twenty to fifty later in the 
season. 
As to the number of eggs laid by this species 
I am at a loss to state with certainty, but will 
give a few observations that approach accuracy. 
One day I secured a female alive, and as she 
was only injured slightly in the wing I deter- 
mined to save her in order to examine her 
habits. The date of capture was May 27th, 
and as she fed greedily on the mixed insect 
and other foods that were offered the follow- 
ing day, there was but little doubt but the 
captive would survive. On May 29th an egg 
with the characteristic form and markings 
was laid in the cage, quite forty hours after 
she became a prisoner. From this I was sat- 
