62 THE BIRD GROWN UP 
journey. By that time his little folk are full 
grown, and can take care of themselves, and he 
is getting on his winter suit, or moulting. 
Then some morning all the bobolinks in the 
country are turned out of their homes in the 
meadows, by men and horses and mowing-ma- 
chines, for at that time the long grass is ready 
to cut. 
Then he begins to think about the wild rice 
whichis getting just right to eat. Besides, he 
likes to take his long journey to South America 
in an easy way, stopping here and there as he 
goes. So some morning we miss his cheerful 
call, and if we go to the meadow we shall not be 
able to see a single bobolink. 
There, too, are the swallows, who eat only 
small flying insects. As the weather grows 
cooler, these tiny flies are no longer to be found. 
So the swallows begin to flock, as it is called. 
For a few days they will be seen on fences and 
telegraph wires, chattering and making a great 
noise, and then some morning they will all be 
gone. 
They spend some time in marshes, and other 
lonely places, before they at last set out for the 
south. 
As the days grow shorter and cooler, the war- 
blers go. These are the bright-colored little 
