178 DOLICHONYX ORYZIVORUS, BOBOLINK. 



Family ICTERID^ : American Starlings. 



DOLICHONYX OEYZR^ORUS, (Liim.) Sw. 



Bobolink; Reed-bird; Rice-bird 



JEmhcriza oryzivora, Linn., Syst. Nat. i, 1766, 311. — {Hortulanus carolinensis, Briss., Oru. 

 iii, 282, pi. 15, f. 3; Emheriza carol hiknsis, Klkin, 92).— Gm., i, 17S8, 880. — 

 Lath., lud. Oru. i, 1790, 408.— Wils., Am. Oru. ii, 1810, 48, pi. 12, f. 1, 2. 



Passerina orijz'irora, Vieill., Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. 1817, 3. 



Bolichoviix oriizivorus, Sw., Zool. Jonru. iii, 1827, 351. — S^^'. & Ricn., F. B. A. ii, 1831, 

 *278.-^Bp., List, 1838, 29; Cousp. i, 1850, 437.— AuD., Syu. 1839, 138.— AuD., B. 

 Aai. iv, 1842, 10, pi. 211.— Gould, Voy. Beagle, 1841, 106 (Galapagoes).— GiR., 

 B. L. I. 1844, 137.— GossE, B. Jam. 1847, 229.— Woodh., Sitgr. Rep. 1853, 81 

 (Texas aud Indian Territory, migratory). — Cab., J. f, O. iv, 1856, 11 (Cuba). — 

 Bd., B. N. A. 1858, 522.— Maxim., J. f. 0. 1858, 266.— Buyant, Pr. Bost. Soc. vii, 

 1859 (Baliamas).— SCL., P. Z. S. 1858, 72; Cat. 1862, 134 (Bolivia; St. Martha). 

 March, Pr. Pliila. Acad, 1863, 299 (Jamaica).— Scl. & Salv., P. Z. S. 1870, 781 

 (Veuezuela). — Hayd., Rep. 1862, 169 (verj^ common to Fort Pierre). — Coop., 

 Am. Nat. iii, 1869, 78.— Tkippe, Pr. Ess. lust, vi, 1871, 117 (Minnesota, not 

 common). — Snow, B. Kans. 1873 (breeding; rare). — Allen, Bull. M. C. Z. iii, 

 1872, 178 (Ogden, Utah).— Merr., U. S. Geol. Surv. Ter. 1872, 686 (Utah).— 

 COUES, Key, 1872, 154, tig. 97.— Cass., Pr. Pliila. Acad. 1866, 16 (Rio Negro, 

 Rio Napo, La Plata). — Lawr., Aun. Lye. N. Y. 1864, 99 (Sombrero). — Pelz., 

 Oru, Braz. iii, 199 (Brazil).— B. B. ifc R., N. A. B. ii, 1874, 149, pi. 32, f. 4, 5. 



Icterus aqrtpcnms, Bp., Obs. Wils. 1824, No. 87 ; Syu. 1828, 53.— Nutt., Mau. i, 1832, 185.— 

 Aud., Oru. Biog. i, 1831. 283; v, 1839, 486; pi. 54. 



JDoliclionyx iKjrlpcnnis, Rich., Rep. Brit. Assoc. 1837. 



Psarocolins caudacutus, Wagl., Syst. Av. 1827, 32 {Bd. and Cass.). 



Dollclioinjx oryzivorus var. ulhinucha, Ridgw., Mss. — Coues, Check-list, App. 



Hah. — Eastern North America. North to the Saskatchewan (latitude 40'^, Eich,}. 

 West to the Rocky Mountains and somewhat beyond. Utah {Allen); Nevada {liidg- 

 way); Wyomiug {Haydcn); Montana {Cooper). South to Bolivia, La Plata, &e. Gala- 

 pagoes. Breeds from the Middle States aud Kansas uorthward. Does not winter 

 anywhere in the United States. West Indies, Central and South America (numerous 

 quotations). 



Lieutenant Warren^s Expedition. — 5360, Fort Pierre ; 8951-52, Loup Fork of Platte. 



Later Expeditions. — 61728-30, Ogden, Utah (" abundant"). 



The entire cliaDge of plumage which the male of this species uucier- 

 goes twice a year is iioue the less iuterestiug because it is so well kuowii 

 a fact in its economy. When the bird reaches the Middle districts, 

 which is nsnally not until May, the males, as a rule, are already in 

 nearly perfect breeding attire, but in the vast majority of instances stiil 

 show touches of yellowish on the belly aud legs. At this period they 

 are very conspicuous, associated in flocks, sometimes great in extent, 

 moviug restlessly about the meadows and orchards, overflowing with 

 glad music. Their number seems out of all proportion to that of the 

 females, but this is probably due to the silent and more retiring ways 

 of the latter sex. They really pass through, in the vernal migration, 

 quite rapidly, though they do not api)ear to be at all in a hurry, as we 

 see them by day. They throw themselves in a field, scatter on the 

 ground, feeding, and at the slightest alarm, or in mere wantonness, 

 suddenly fly en manse to the nearest tree, fence, or bush, and begin to 

 sing, i^roducing an indescribable medley, hushed iu an instant only to 

 be resumed. Sometimes they siug as merrily, though with less con- 

 certed action, while they are rambling in the grass. Their day-time 

 leisure for song and food is easily explained : for they migrate, at this 

 season, almost entirely by night. Every night in early May, as we walk 

 the streets, we can hear the mellow metallic clinking coming down 

 through the darkness, from birds passing high over head, and sounding 

 clearer in the stillness. By the middle of May they liave all passed ; 



