. Birds of America;. Birds -- North America. 245 rightful lu-irs dwindle ;i\vay and ])crisli. In some cases the vouns,' L owhird claims all the time of the foster-mother during the day, so that her own eggs become chilled and dn imt hatch; in others the eggs of the foster-parent are punc- tured, apjKirently by mother Cowbird. If, after all, any of the rightful occupants of the nest survive, the young Cowbird, taking the middle of the nest, grows so much faster than they that it crowds them out and thus, by hooU or by crook", soon has the nest to itself and receives all the food
. Birds of America;. Birds -- North America. 245 rightful lu-irs dwindle ;i\vay and ])crisli. In some cases the vouns,' L owhird claims all the time of the foster-mother during the day, so that her own eggs become chilled and dn imt hatch; in others the eggs of the foster-parent are punc- tured, apjKirently by mother Cowbird. If, after all, any of the rightful occupants of the nest survive, the young Cowbird, taking the middle of the nest, grows so much faster than they that it crowds them out and thus, by hooU or by crook", soon has the nest to itself and receives all the food that should have nourished an inter- esting family. In the meantime it has grown so strong and well-feathered that in about seven days after it leaves the shell it has outgrown the nest and climbed out upon the branches. Later it follows its foster-parents about, begging for food. It is a common sight to see a small Spar- row or Warbler feeding a young Cowbird almost twice its size. The big clown looks as if it might swallow the little bird which ventures to plunge insects and worms into that gaping, capa- cious, clamoring throat. .\t last the young Cow- bird, being well grown, well feathered, and more than able to take care of itself, searches out the care-free flocks of its kind, joins one of them, and the troubles and cares of its foster-parents are over for the season, unless they attempt to rear a second brood, when the story may be repeated. Another interesting j^henomcnon about the Cowbird is its close association with cattle. As it ranges over a large part of North America and well into Mexico, and as it feeds much on in- sects found in grass land, it uses the cattle as dogs to flush its game. Wherever cattle feed, the Cowbird may be found. It may be seen more commonly in the West than in the East, around and close in front of the cattle, as they graze, chasing and catching insects which flee from the towering kine. The Cowbird passes freely be- neath the cow's belly an
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookidbirdsofameri, bookyear1923
