212 
ICTERUS PECORIS. 
although of a mild as well as affectionate disposition, 
makes a vigorous resistance when assaulted. Like 
most other tyrants and thieves, they are cowardly, 
and accomplish by stealth what they cannot obtain by 
force. 
“ The deportment of the yellow-throat on this occa- 
sion is not to he omitted. She returned while I waited 
near the spot, and darted into her nest, hut 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 agitation 
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 particularly 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 following anec- 
dote will shew not only that the cow-pen finch insinuates 
herself slyly into the nests of other birds, hut that even 
the most pacific of them will resent the insult: A 
bluebird had built for three successive seasons in the 
cavity of a mulberry tree near my dwelling. One day, 
when the nest was nearly finished, I discovered a female 
cow bird perched upon 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 off to her companions with seeming 
delight, which she expressed b}^ her gestures and notes. 
The bluebird soon returned, and entered the nest, 
but instantaneously fluttered back with much apparent 
hesitation, and perched upon the highest branch of the 
tree, uttering a rapidly repeated note of complaint and 
resentment, which soon brought the male, who recipro- 
cated her feelings by every demonstration of the most 
vindictive resentment. They entered the nest together, 
and returned several times, uttering their uninterrupted 
