42 



food consists entirely of insects, of which the caterpillars that feed on clover form the 

 greater part. These caterpillars are very abundant, and, where they are not kept in 

 check by the birds, sometimes do serious injury, so that apart from its appearance, 

 and its good qualities as a musician, the Bobolink has a claim upon us which entitles 

 it to our best care and protection. After the hay is cut the males lose their black 

 and white plumage, and become like the females and young in appearance, of a 

 yellowish brown color. They then associate in small flocks and frequent the marshes, 

 feeding on wild rice and the seeds of some rush-like plants, until the first frosijs 

 come, when they retire to the south for the winter. 



In the rice growing States these birds are sometimes accused of doing con- 

 siderable mischief to the planters' crops, but I am inclined to think that the various 

 species of blackbirds which also resort to these States are the principal depredators, 

 and by reason of their greater abundance do the most of the damage. 



Meadowlark. The Meadowlark is a common though, unfortunately, not now an 

 abundant bird on the farm. Some years ago it could be found wherever the land 

 was cultivated, all through the Province, but owing to its size and slow straight 

 flight, which makes it an easy mark for the gunner, its numbers are decreasing very 

 fast. This is a great pity, for it is an exceedingly valuable bird to the farmer. From 

 the time of its arrival here in March until its departure in November it resorts to 

 the cultivated land and grass meadows, feeding entirely on insects, and never indulg- 

 ing in grain or fruit of any kind. All its work being done amongst the crops upon 

 which man expends his labor, and to which he is compelled to look for his sub- 

 sistence, the benefit conferred is direct, and should be appreciated. We cannot make 

 any return for the good it does, but we can at least refrain from destroying its life, 

 and exert ourselves a little to prevent others from doing so. The class of insects upon 

 which this bird feeds during the early part of the season is perhaps the most injuri- 

 ous to vegetable life of all our insect enemies. Its food consists chiefly of those known 

 as cut worms, wire worms, etc., all of which work underground for the most part 

 during the day, and emerge from their hiding places at night only. By some highly 

 developed faculty the Meadowlark is enabled to locate these creatures in their hiding 

 places, and being provided with a sharp beak of sufficient length for the purpose, is 

 able to drag them out and devour them. Of all the stomachs I have examined prior 

 to Jaly, the principal contents were wire worms, cut worms, and some few other 

 caterpillars and beetles; later in the season the food consisted principally of grass- 

 hoppers. On two or three occasions I have found a few of these birds wintering 

 with us, in the vicinity of market gardens, and being curious to know if at that 

 season they had been compelled to fall back on a seed or vegetable diet, I shot one out 

 of each lot, and I found the birds were in remarkably good condition. Their stomach 

 contained, however, nothing but insects, chiefly bugs and beetles, which they had 

 probably obtained from manure heaps and the refuse cabbages left in the gardens. 

 These birds build a domed nest on the ground, in grass flelds; their eggs and young 

 are therefore liable to be destroyed by Crows, skunks and other vermin, and those 

 that escape their natural enemies are subject to such continued persecution from 

 gunners who ought to know better, that our beautiful Meadowlark is in danger of 

 extermination, unless some effort is made for its protection. 



OEIOLES. 



Baltimore Oriole. The Golden Eobin, Fire Bird, or Hangnest, as the bird is 

 sometimes called, is of more importance to the fruit grower than the grain farmer, 

 as it gleans its food entirely among the branches, only visiting the ground for 



