150 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Habits. The well-lmown and familiar Bobolink of North America has, 

 at different seasons of the year, a remarkably extended distribution. In its 

 migrations it traverses all of the United States east of the high central plains 

 to the Atlantic as far to the north as the 54th parallel, which is believed to 

 be its most northern limit, and which it reaches in June. In the winter it 

 reaches, in its wandering, the West Indies, Central America, the northern 

 and even the central portions of South America. Von Pelzeln obtained 

 Brazilian specimens from Matogrosso and Eio Madeira in November, and 

 from Marabitanas, April 4th and 13th. Those procured in April were 

 in their summer or breeding plumage, suggesting the possibility of their 

 breeding in the high grounds of South America. Sclater received specimens 

 from Santa Marta and from Bolivia. Other specimens have been reported 

 as coming from Eio Negro, Eio Napo, in Brazil, Cuba, Jamaica, Porto Eico, 

 Paraguay, Buenos Ayres, etc. 



In North America it breeds from the 42d to the 54th parallel, and in 

 some parts of the country it is very abundant at this season. The most 

 southern breeding locality hitherto recorded is the forks of the Susquehanna 

 Eiver, along the west branch of which, especially in the Wyoming Valley, 

 it was formerly very abundant. 



Mr. Eidgway also observed this bird in Euby Valley where, among the 

 wheat-fields, small companies were occasionally seen in August. He M^as 

 informed that, near Salt Lake City, these birds are seen in May, and again 

 late in the summer, when the grain is ripe. 



Of all our unimitative and natural songsters the Bobolink is by far the 

 most popular and attractive. Ahvays original and peculiarly natural, its 

 song is exquisitely musical. In the variety of its notes, in the rapidity with 

 which they are uttered, and in the touching pathos, beauty, and melody of 

 their tone and expression, its notes are not equalled by those of any other 

 North American bird. We know of none, among our native feathered song- 

 sters, whose song resembles, or can be compared with it. 



In the earliest approaches of spring, in Louisiana, when small flocks of 

 male Bobolinks make their first appearance, they are said, by Mr. Audubon, 

 to sing in concert ; and their song thus given is at once exceedingly novel, 

 interesting, and striking. Uttered with a volubility that even borders upon 

 the burlesque and the ludicrous, the whole effect is greatly lieightened by 

 the singular and striking manner in which first one singer and then an- 

 other, one following the other until all have joined their voices, take up the 

 note and strike in, after the leader has set the example and given the 

 signal. In this manner sometimes a party of thirty or forty Bobolinks will 

 begin, one after the other, until the whole unite in producing an extraor- 

 dinary medley, to which no pen can do justice, but which is described 

 as very pleasant to listen to. AU at once the music ceases with a sudden- 

 ness not less striking and extraordinary. These concerts are repeated from 

 time to time, usually as often as the flock alight. Tins performance may 



