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ICTERUS PECORIS* 
13 . ICTERUS PECORIS. 
THE COW-PEN BIRD. -—COW BUNTING OF WILSON. 
AUDUBON, PLATE XCIX, MALE AND FEMALE. 
As preliminary to liis amusing 1 account of this bird, 
Audubon beautifully remarks : — 
“ The works of nature are evidently perfect in all their 
parts. From the manifestations of consummate skill 
everywhere displayed, we must infer that the intellect 
which planned the grand scheme, is infinite in power ; 
and even when we observe parts or objects which to 
us seem unnecessary, superfluous, or useless, it would 
be more consistent with the ideas which we ought to 
have of our own feeble apprehension, to consider them 
as still perfect, to have been formed for a purpose, and 
to execute their intended function, than to view them 
as abortive and futile attempts* 
“ The seed is dropped on the ground. It imbibes 
moisture, swells, and its latent principle of life receiving 
an impulse, slowly unfolds. Its radicle shoots down 
into the earth, its plumule rises toward the sky. The 
first leaflets appear, and, as we watch its progress, we 
see it assuming size and strength. Years pass on, and 
it still enlarges. It produces flowers and fruits, and 
gives shelter to multitudes of animated beings. At 
length, it stands the glory of the forest, spreading 
abroad its huge arms, covering with its dense foliage 
the wild animals that retreat to it for protection from 
the sun and the rain. Centuries after its birth, the 
stately tree rears its green head to the sky. At length 
symptoms of decay begin to manifest themselves. The 
branches wither, the core dies and putrefies. Gray 
and shaggy lichens cover its trunk and limbs. The 
woodpecker resorts to it for the purpose of procuring 
the insects which find shelter beneath its decayed bark. 
Blackness spreads over the heavens, the muttering of 
the thunder is heard. Suddenly there comes on the 
ear the bickering noise of the whirlwind, which scatters 
