Family ICTERID^. Blackbirds, Orioles, etc. 



Genus DOLICHONYX Swainsox. 



DOLICHONYX 0RYZIV0RU8 (Lixn.). 



201. Bobolink. (494) 



Malt : — In spring, black ; cervix, butf ; scapulars, rump and upper tail 

 coverts, ashy-white ; interscapulars streaked with black, butf and asliy ; outer 

 quills, edged with yellowish ; bill, blackish-horn ; feet, brown. Male in fall, 

 ftmalt and young, entirely different in color ; yellowish -brown above, brownish- 

 yellow below ; crown and back conspicuously, nape, rump and sides less 

 broadly streaked with black ; crown, with a median and lateral light stripe ; 

 wings and tail, blackish, pale edged ; bill, brown. The male changing shows 

 confused characters of both sexes. Length, 6i-7i ; wing, 3i-4 ; tail, 2^-3 ; 

 tarsus, about I ; middle toe and claw, about 1|. 



Hab. — Eastern North America to the (xreat Plains, north to Southern 

 Canada, south in winter to the West Indies and South America. Breeds from 

 the Middle States northward, and winters south of the United States. 



Nest, a cup-shaped hollow in the ground in a hay-field ; lined with withered 

 grass. 



Eggs, four or five, brownish-white, heavily 1)lotcheil and clouded with 

 chocolate-brown making the general appearance very dark. 



