BIRDS OF THE J'JCIXITV OF NEW YORK CITY 165 



lover's point of view the Starling is a decided acquisition to the bird-life of our 

 cities where its long-drawn, cheery whistle is in welcome contrast to the noisy 

 chatter of House Sparrows. 



Family ICTERIU.-E. Blackiukhs, Orioles, etc. 



*Bobolink; Reedbird (Dolichoiiy.v oryzii'onts) . A locally distributed sum- 

 mer resident, arriving in early May and remaining until October. In August 

 the males assume the Reedbird plumage and resort to our wild-rice marshes, 

 where they are joined by large numbers from the north, wliich pause to feed 

 on the wild-rice. 



Twenty-five years ago the Bobolink was an abundant and generally distri- 

 buted summer resident in this vicinity. Since that date it has rapidly decreased 

 in numbers and is now entirely wanting in localities where it was formerly of 

 regular occurrence. 





*Cowbird (Mulotlinis atcr). A common summer resident arriving late in 

 March and remaining until November. It has been recorded as occurring in 

 winter (Foster, Abst. Proc. Linn. Soc, No. 5, 1893, p. 2). 



*Red-winged Blackbird (Agclaiits pliaviicctis). A common summer resi- 

 dent, abundant during the migrations when it occurs in large flocks. It is one 

 of the first birds to reach us in the spring, frequently arriving before March 

 I. and it remains until December. 



*Meadowlark (Stiiniella ))iagua). A common summer resident, occuring in 

 reduced numbers during the winter, when it is largely confined to the exten- 

 sive riiarshes near the coast. 



♦Orchard Oriole (Icterus spuriiis). A common summer resident, arriv- 

 ing early in May and remaining until September. (See group^ third floor). 



