42R BOBOLINK RICE BIR1>. 



DIMKXSIONS 



Average nieasurcnionts (if twpntj' male specimens. Lengtli, 7'42; stretch, lO'OO; wing, .T'SO; tail, ti'TT; bill, "SO; tar- 

 sus, r07. Liingest specimen, TT)0; greatest extent uf Aving, I'J'OO; longest wing, 4'00; tail,2'H5; bill, 'fiO; tai-sus, riOt 

 Shortest specimen, 7-25; smallest extent of wing, ll'GO; shortest wing, 3-72; tail, 'J-IH; hill, -50; tarsus, r05. 



Average mea,surement« of twenty female specimens. Length, ()''J7; stretch, 10'1'2; wing, 3'40; tail, 3"45; liill, ■52; tar- 

 dus, •!(7. Longest specimen, 7'25; greatest extent of wing, 11'35; longest wing,3'fi0: tail,2'55; bill, '58; tarsus, r05. 

 Shortest s])eeimen, 0-70; smallest extent of wing, 10'40; shortest wing, 3'20; tail, 2-25; bill, -48; tai'sus, •95. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 M-s/.s, placed on the ground, being composed of coarse dried grass lined with finer. Dimensions; externiil diameter, 

 400, internal, 300. External depth, 2-50, internal, 200. 



E(j(js, four or live in numlier. oval in form, ashy-white in color, often s]iotted and blotched so thickly with chocolate- 

 brown as to nearly cover the ground. Simietimes they have lines of darker, but I have seen them when it was ditiicult to 

 distinguish them from those of the Song Sparrow. Dimensicjas from '70 x '54 to '75 x "CO. 



HABITS. 



I do not know of any species among our summer visitants, that arrive with such reg- 

 TiL'irity us the Bobolinks. By the tenth of May, or within a day or two of this (hite, the 

 lively, rattling, energetic song of the males is sure to be heard in Massachusetts, and a few 

 d;iys later their duller colored mates appear. They must migrate very rapidly for I heard 

 them passing over the Gulf of Mexico late in April, but they do not stop long in Florida, 

 neither did I over hear them give the full song there, but they utter a few hurried snatches 

 by way of practice as they fly northward. It is only in their .summer home that they give 

 the entire melody which has made them famous. 



When the bright days of caxly June have come and the trees have assumed their full 

 dress, when the waving grass in the meadows is of that delicate tint never seen at any 

 other season, when all vegetation is showing its best and most lirilliant green, the lay of 

 the Bobolink is to be heard to perfection. Springing upwards from the dewy herbage 

 the male begins that wondrous carol, which is continued as he flies through the air, until 

 he arrives over the spot where his mate is sitting on her eggs; then with extended wings 

 he circles quickly downward, alighting beside her with a peculiar che-che-che given with 

 great determination There are but few of our native birds which show so much spirit 

 while giving their song as the Bobolink, for he enters vigorously into the performance, 

 and the song of one seems to inspire his neighbors, for when he begins all those which 

 are within hearing also commence until the fields resound with joyous melody. But it is 

 only daring the breeding season that the full song is heard, after this is over and the young 

 appear in their yellow dress, the males are more silent, but they do not readily forget their 

 carol, and I have heard them give their spring performance even while moulting. When 

 they have fairly assumed the autumnal dress, they only utter the metallic like call note 

 which is given while they are on the wing. 



The nests of the Bobolinks are placed on the ground, u.sually in a thick tuft of grass 

 which serves to conceal them. The female if approached when on the nest, will quietly 

 creep away through the sheltering herbage and rise some distance from the spot, and thus 

 it is difficult to find the eggs; but as the male has the habit above described of frequently 

 alighting near his mate where she is sitting, one can judge of the approximate position 

 of the nest by watching him. 



