BRITISH COLUMBIA AND HYPOTHETICAL LIST. 969 



DIVISION C. 



Description of species known to occur in British Columbia and whose 

 occurrence in Washington is presumptive. 



B. C. & H. No. I. 



BOBOLINK. 



A O L^. No. 49.4 Dolichonyx oryzivorus (Linn.). 



Synonyms. — Skunk Bl/xckiurd. Reed-bird. Rice-bird. ;\Ieauu\v-\vink. 



Description. — Adult male, breeding plumage: Head and below, rich glossy black, — 

 the feathers liavmg at first a buffy edging which wears ofT as the season advances; a broad 

 nuchal patch of strong biifT or cream ; scapulars, lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts 

 pale white: middle back gray: upper back, wings and tail glossy to dead black with various 

 buffy edging: tail-feathers sharply pointed; bill dull black; feet brown. Adult female: 

 Ground color of plumage olive-buff. — clearest below, and in median crown, superciliary, 

 and inter-scapular stripes; the remainder black and brownish-fuscous. Adults in fall, and 

 young: Like female in spring, but huffier and with less black throughout. Length 7.00-7.50; 

 wing 3.00-4.00; tail 2.75-3.00; bill .55; tarsus .90-1.00. Female averages a half-inch shorter, 

 with similar prupnrtions. 



Recognition Marks. — Chewink size; black, white, and buff plumage of breeding male. 

 The breeding female is a shy and obscurely colored bird, to be recognized by the amateur 

 mainly thru the attentions of the male. .\t other seasons both sexes and all ages may be 

 known by the frequently uttered dink ciy. In the hand the acute tail-feathers are quite 

 distinctive. 



Nesting. — Nest: on the ground in meadows or deserted fields, a slight, grass-lined 

 depression concealed with some art, but not definitely overarched. Eggs: 4-7, yellowish 

 clay or stoue-gray. heavily spotted and lilotched with umber, drab, and even lavender 

 Av. size, .S7 X .(13, 



General Range. — Chiefly eastern North America, west to edge of Great Plains, breeding 

 in Northern United States and more southern British Provinces; rare or locally distributed 

 west of the Rocky Mountains but probablv extending its range westerly: in winter south 

 to the West Indie-, and South .America. 



Occurrence in British Columbia. — This handsome species is a regular summer resident 

 in the valley of the Okanagan. It is common at Penticton and scarce although still breeding 

 as far north as Vernon and Lumby. I have also seen it frequently at Chilliwack on the 

 lower Fraser, and believe that it may have bred there for I have taken both adults and 

 young in July. 



Supposed Occurrence in Washington. — Reported by Dr. Merrill as breeding in the 

 valley of the St. Joseph River in Idaho and by Dr. .\. G. Prill as occurring at Scio, Oregon. 

 These appearances taken in conjunction with the bird's well known residence in British 

 Columbia make its occurrence in eastern Washington, at least during migrations, almost 

 certain. 



IT is matter for the greatest congratulation that the Bobolink has made its appearance 

 in the Pacific Northwest and we have reason to believe that the species will become 

 thoroughly established in our more open valleys. While its ways hereabouts are still 

 comparatively little known the very mention of its name will serve to recall to many 

 minds pleasant memories of childhood in Ontario, or, it may be, m New England. For 

 next after Bluebird, the coming of Bobolink marks the broadest step in that golden stair 

 of springtime, by which the eastern bird-lover yearly attains the height of ornithological 

 joy. His coming heralds that tidal wave of migration which begins somewhere during the 

 last week in .\pril, and sweeps over the land till the middle of May or the ist of June. 

 Without waiting for their more modest mates, the males press northward, hot-winged, to 

 riot for a while over the dank meadows in bachelor companies, and to perfect that marvel 

 of tumultuous song. Oh how they sing! those Bacchanals of springtime. From fence-post 

 or tree-top, or quivering in mid-air, they pour forth such an ecstacy of liquid gurgling 

 notes as must thrill the very clods. Such exuberance of spirit, such reckless abandon of 

 mirth-compelling joy would cure a sick preacher on blue Monday. As the bird sings he 

 bows and scrapes and pirouettes till, as Wheaton says, "he resembles a French dancing 

 master in uniform, singing, fiddling, dancing, and calling off at the same time." 



