110 



BLACKBIRDS AND ORIOLES 



o 



Fig. 49. 

 Bill of Oriole. 



The Oreliard Oriole is also smaller and builds a 

 shallower nest of grass. The Blackbirds are alike 

 in general characteristics. They all Avalk — the 

 Orioles hop — and the}^ get most of their food on 

 the ground. The Crow Blackbird, Red-wing, and 

 Eusty are most nearly alike, and as their food 

 habits are similar, they have similar bills. (See 

 Fig. 121, p. 193.) The Cow- 

 bird and Bobolink are less ex- 

 clusively insectivorous, and so 

 their bills approach more to the 

 seed-eater conical type of bill 

 (see Figs. 42, p. 102 • 50, p. 110, 

 and 119, p. 193), contrasting 

 quite sharply with the long, 

 pointed bills of the Orioles 

 (Fig. 49), Meadowlark (see 

 Fig. 43, p. 102), and Black- 

 birds (Fig. 121, p. 193). The 

 Blackbird and Oriole tyjDcs of 

 bill contrast well with the fly- 

 traps of the Swallows, the 

 probes of the Hummingbirds, 

 and the bills of the Doves, 

 AYrens, and Flycatchers. (See 

 Figs. 120, 118, p. 193 ; 106, 107, p. 192.) In the 

 same way, the tails of the Bobolink and Meadow- 

 lark, which live among the grasses, have become 

 specialized, being quite sharp and pointed, as if 

 worn by friction (see Fig. 51) ; while those of the 



Fig. 50. 

 Bill of Bobolink. 



\h 







Fic. 51. 

 Tail o£ Bobolink. 



