No. 20.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. IO9 



(Canfield and Watrous). One was taken in North Haven, Feb. 

 20, 1902, by Mr. Harry Ludington (in coll. of L. B. B.). 



Nest. Usually located in the small branches at the top of the 

 tallest tree in the vicinity, at a height of 35-60 feet from the 

 ground; the birds breed in single pairs or in small colonies, near 

 the coast. 



Eggs. 3-5 ; early in May. 



Nesting dates. Earliest record. May 5, 1895, five eggs (J. 

 C. A. M.). Latest record. June 3, 1894, two eggs (J. C. A. M.). 



Breeding records. May, 1888, New Haven, three eggs (C. 

 C. T.) ; May 12, 16, 1891, Fairfield, four and five eggs respectively 

 (Eames) f- June 3, 1894, two eggs (J. C. A. M.) ; May 5, 1895, 

 five eggs (J. C. A. M.) ; May 4, 1900, four eggs, and May 19, 

 1906, five eggs (Beers) ; May 12, 1901, Niantic, colony with five, 

 five, four, and three eggs, and four young (Hill) ; May 14, 1904, 

 four eggs, May 21, 1904, four young, and May 10, 1905, two sets 

 of five eggs (L. B. B.). 



Family ICTERID^E. Blackbirds, Orioles, etc. 



Dolichonyx oryzivorus (Linnaeus). Bobolink. 



A common but decreasing summer resident from the last of 

 May until August, most abundant in the northern part of the 

 state. 



Earliest record. New Haven, May 5, 1898; Portland, April 

 27, 1 89 1. The usual arrival is between May 5 and 15 (average 

 of 44 years' records, J. H. S.). 



Latest record. New Haven, Sept. 25, 1895 ; Portland, Oct. 

 15, 1890. 



Nest. Eggs deposited on the ground in a meadow. 



Eggs. 4-6 ; early in June. 



Nesting dates. Earliest record. May 25, 1897, six eggs (H. 

 R. Buck). Latest record. June 20, 1887, four eggs (H. W. F.). 



In the southern part of the state the Bobolink now breeds com- 

 monly only in the meadows bordering the larger salt marshes, as 

 at Stratford and Hammonasset Point. 



Mr. Buttrick notes 1 that, from observations of this species 

 made at Woodmont, he believes the Bobolink is at times polyg- 

 amous ; also that the young leave the nest before they are able 

 to fly, when they are cared for by the females. 



1 Bird-Lore, xi, 3, pp. 125-6. 



