Bobolink. 23 



ico to the Argentine Kepublic and Paraguay. Traveling 

 northward, the earliest migrants reach central Illinois in 

 the first week of May, the day varying from the first to 

 the eighth of the month. They journey chiefly by way of 

 the meadows and hedges, preferring the borders to the 

 more open parts of the fields and pastures. They advance 

 rather leisurely on their migrations, and sometimes spend 

 several weeks in passing this locality. A small troop may 

 halt in a particular low meadow or fancied piece of hedge, 

 and there dally for several days before they disappear. 

 Often, however, they are more hurried, and remain only 

 long enough to announce their presence and to refresh 

 themselves ere they attempt the succeeding stages of their 

 journey. Only a few pairs remain to rear their broods in 

 this section of central Illinois. 



In the spring migrations of many of our common birds 

 it is customary for the males to precede the females, the 

 latter journeying more slowly, and reaching their destina- 

 tion after a convenient period. Some of the birds travel 

 northward in mated pairs. In the case of the bobolink, 

 however, it is noticeable that in this locality the males do 

 not travel entirely alone, but usually one female is escorted 

 by five or six males, who vie with one another in so- 

 liciting the attention and favor of the lady. When she 

 chooses to sit on the ground, they generally alight on the 

 ground also, though not all near her; and if one of the 

 cavaliers begins his madrigals, another will add his voice, 

 and thus one by one all will take part in the performance. 

 The mingling of their voices produces a curiously fanciful 

 medley; and it is remarkable that while their strains 

 are in yarious keys, they are commonly in perfect har- 

 mony, forming a real bird orchestra. Unlike the begin- 

 ning of their overture, they end their performance by all 

 ceasing abruptly, as though by word or signal. A short 

 period of silence follows, until one of the impatient trou- 

 badours begins softly, after which the previous per- 

 formance is re-enacted. 



Frequently the concert is begun by the action of one of 

 the birds as he rises from his place and flutters into the 

 air, pouring forth his jingle while rising to a perch atop of 

 a weed-stalk, or on the hedge. Should the somber-colored 



