THE BOBOLINK. 89 



The Bobolink received his name frorn a peculiar 

 song of his own, in which he expresses very dis- 

 tinctly the words " bob-o-lmk " several times in suc- 

 cession. They are found all over the United States 

 in the summer season, in great numbers, but migrate 

 southerly when cold weather approaches. Their 

 song is a confused, merry jingle of notes, of about 

 the quality of the canary, but without any method 

 whatever. They are easily domesticated to cage-life, 

 and, when fed on nothing but canary-seed (no hemp), 

 will sing about eight months of the year. They are 

 hardy, and will live many years. The author owned 

 one that was sent to the World's Fair in 185 1, and, 

 after taking the first prize in Europe, came safely 

 back to America. 



