The Bob-Link^ or Rice-Bird. 233 



ARTICLE XXXVn.— On the Bob-link or Rice-Bird, {Dolichonyx 



orzivora.) 

 At the present season of the year almost every meadow in the country 

 possesses one or more families of Bob-links, birds not only remarkable for the 

 richness of their music, but also for the changes of their plumage and the 

 extent of their migrations. The female of this species much resembles a 

 small blackbird in form, but her colour is yellowish-brown, with blackish 

 streaks running from the head in the direction of the tail. The male during 

 the spring and summer is easily distinguished by a large cream-coloured or 

 whitish patch upon the back of his neck. He has also a white spot on each 

 •win^, and his back is yellow. They inhabit and breed in the meadows, never 

 in txi3 woods. A couple of hours walk into the country will be well repaid 

 by hearing the extraordinary song of this bird, and witnessing the amusing 

 pomposity of his motions. 



These birds arrive in Canada in the month of May, and immediately 

 settle themselves in the meadows, where the female commences preparations 

 for rearing her young, while the male cheers her with his music. The nest ig 

 constructed on the ground, composed of leaves and coarse grass, and lined 

 on the inside with the same materials, but of a finer quality. The eggs are 

 five, of a bluish white, and the young when brought forth are of the colour 

 of the female. 



" The song of the male, while the female is sitting, is singular and very 

 agreeable. Mounting and hovering on wing at a small height above the 

 field, he chaunts out such a jingling melody of short, variable notes, uttered 

 with such seeming confusion and rapidity, and continued for a considerable 

 time, that it appears as if half a dozen birds of different kinds were singing 

 together. Some idea may be formed of this song by striking the high keys 

 of a pianoforte at random, singly and quickly, making as many sudden 

 contrasts of high and low notes as possible. Many of the tones are in 

 themselves charming, but they succeed each other so rapidly that the ear can 

 hardly separate them. Nevertheless the general effect is good, and when ten 

 or twelve are all singing on the same tree, the concert is extremely 

 pleasing." * 



When there are a number breeding in the same field, often a small flock 

 of the males may be heard at once from the same tree, commencing one after 

 another, and sometimes ceasing all at the same time. The rich jangle of 

 notes poured forth by a large party is extremely interesting. The song 

 consists of a rapid rigmorole of notes somewhat like kukle-eye-ko wukle- 

 any-kang kang kukle-ee-ke kilik kilik-ilik-ang kang, &c., uttered with great 

 rapidity, and the sounds running into each other towards the conclusion. It 

 is to be observed that the bird, on some occasions, commences this song 

 several times before he gets through with it, as if he were endeavouring to 

 recollect it. 



* Wilson's Ornithology. 



