BOBOLINK (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) COMMON CROW 
a (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 
Length, about 7 inches 
Range: Breeds from Ohio northeast to Nova Leneth, 19 i 
Scotia, north to Manitoba, and northwest to Rang sree t t { i tate 
British Columbia; winters in South America. and 1 t or 4 
Habits and economic status: When Ameri United 
can writers awoke to the beauty and attract labit 
iveness of our native birds, among the first to bits of 
be enshrined in song and story was the bobo abil 
link. Few species show such striking contrasts  « 
in the color of the sexes, and few have song 
more unique and whimsical. In its northern luch 
home the bird is loved for its beauty and it cooperati 
rich melody; in the South it earns deserved ci ts hi 
hatred by its destructiveness. Bobolinks reach roost 
the southeastern coast of the United States the hundreds of tl 
last half of April, just as rice is sprouting, and roosts dail ight 
at once begin to pull up and devour the sprout search of d. 
ing kernels. Soon they move on to their north the most frequent 
ern breeding grounds, where they feed upon cies, but 
insects, weed seeds, and a little grain. When tar most of this 
the young are well on the wing, they gather Losses of poul 
in flocks with the parent birds and graduall prop 
move southward, being then generally known netting he 
as reed birds. They reach the rice fields of wirewworms, « 
the Carolinas about August 20, when the rice hoppers, and 
is in the milk. Then until the birds depart for the crow renders good service I] 
South America planters and birds fight for the also an efficient s } 
crop, and in spite of constant watchfulness and of its destru 
innumerable devices for scaring the birds a their eggs the crow must ed 
loss of 10 per cent of the rice is the usual re- inal, and red 
59 
