FAMILY Icteridz. 
He takes a conspicuous stand at the top of some dead 
limb when he sends out this emphatic summons, and it 
certainly is vehement enough for one to imply that busi- 
ness of astrictly important and urgent nature is pending. 
The Crow has his enemies, plenty of them, and few if 
any friends. Still, when he is tamed, he is very loyal to 
his friend and protector, recognizing his voice and an- 
swering his call at once. In autumn great numbers of 
Crows congregate at the seacoast, where the supply of 
sea food offers a more promising outlook for the winter. 
Family «cteride. 
BOBOLINK, BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. 
This family represents a class of birds which, except- 
ing the Orioles, are gregarious. The bills of all the spe- 
cies are comparatively sharp and adapted to their varied 
diet, which consists of insects, fruit, seeds, etc. The 
notes of all the species are distinguished by a metallic 
quality, least noticeable in those of the Oriole, but em- 
phasized and rendered harsh in those of the Blackbirds. 
Bobolink Bobolink is a ‘‘ bird of parts.” He is no 
ieee oe : . ordinary fellow; he is the soloist of comic 
ee te ih opera in the fields, the Reedbird on toast 
L. 7.25 inches Of the epicure, the Robert of Lincoln of 
May 12th the poet, and the Ricebird or Ortolan of 
his enemy the rice grower of South Carolina! In 
appearance he and his mate are utterly different; but 
before the summer is past he changes his costume and 
dons the sober colors of the female; not content with 
all this variety, he changes his voice after the nuptial 
season, and not another liquid, bubbling note do we 
get from him when once he starts in with his mo- 
notonous, metallic chink. In spring his colors are 
patchy. Head black, nape of the neck corn-yellow; tail 
and wings black, the tail feathers with pointed tips; mid- 
dle of back patched or streaked with cream-buff; lower 
back and upper tail coverts white; a patch of white also 
on the shoulders; the bill, face, and under parts black. 
48 
