"The company the tribe keeps is no better than themselves," said Mr. Wood Thrush. "During the breeding-season you will see the grackles, and red-winged blackbirds, and the cowbirds chattering and gossipping together, as they roost for the night. They are a lawless crew. No self-respecting bird will be found in such company." "I saw a number of the cowbird tribe perching on the backs of a bunch of cattle in the pasture-land to-day," said a very young Mr. Flycather. "What do you suppose they were doing?" "Searching for parasites," gruffly said an old bird; "that's the reason they are called cowbirds. They were once called 'buffalo birds' for the same reason." No one spoke for the space of several minutes. "If there are no further remarks," said Mr. Red-eyed Vireo, "the question will be put. All in favor--" "What is the question, Mr. Chairman?" meekly asked a very young Mr. Flycatcher. "Is it or is it not our duty to destroy every egg of Mrs. Cowbird's we find in our nests, thus forcing the tribe to build homes of their own in which to bring up their families? All in favor--" "Ay," chirruped every bird at once. "Contrary minded?" There was no response, so the meeting was declared adjourned. [Illustration: FROM MAYFLOWER, BY PER. NARCISSUS. CHICAGO: A. W. MUMFORD PUBLISHER.] THE NARCISSUS. WILLIAM KERR HIGLEY, Secretary of The Chicago Academy of Sciences. The genus of plants called Narcissus, many of the species of which are highly esteemed by the floriculturist and lover of cultivated plants, belongs to the Amaryllis family (_Amaryllidaceæ._) This family includes about seventy genera and over eight hundred species that are mostly native in tropical or semi-tropical countries, though a few are found in temperate climates. Many of the species are sought for ornamental purposes and, on account of their beauty and remarkable odor, they are more prized by many than are the species of the Lily family. In this group is classed the American Aloe (_Agave americana_) valued not only for cultivation, but also by the Mexicans on account of the sweet fluid which is yielded by its central bud. This liquid, after fermentation, forms an intoxicating liquor known as _pulque_. By distillation, this yields a liquid, very similar to rum, called by the Mexicans _mescal_. The leaves furnish a strong fiber, known as vegetable silk, from which, since remote times, paper has been manufactured. The popular opinion is that this plant flowers but once in a century; hence the name "Century Plant" is often applied to it, though under proper culture it will blossom more frequently. Other plants of equal economic and historic interest, but less known, belong to this family. It is said that one species furnished the fluid used by the Hottentots for poisoning their arrows.