262 BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. 



Washington, T. V,, common in spring, abundant in fall ; May 1 to May 27 ; 

 Aug. 5 to Oct. 1. Sing Sing, tolerably common S. R., May 1 to Oct. 5. Cam- 

 bridge, very common S. E., May 8 to Sept. 10. 



Nest^ of grasses, on the ground. Eggs^ four to seven, grayish white, fre- 

 quently tinged with the color of the numerous irregular spots and blotches of 

 olive-brown or umber, -85 x -62. 



In June our fields and meadows echo with the Bobolink's " mad 

 music " as, on quivering wing, he sings in ecstasy to his mate on her 

 nest in the grasses below. What a wonderful song it is ! An irre- 

 pressible outburst ; a flood of melody from a heart overflowing with 

 the joy of early summer. 



But this glad season is soon over. Even before the tide of the year 

 is full, the Bobolink begins to prepare for the long journey to his win- 

 ter resorts. Doffing his jaunty costume of black, white, and buil, he 

 dons the less conspicuous dress of his mate, and travels in disguise 

 under the assumed name of Reedbird or Ricebird. His voice is hushed, 

 save for a single call-note — a metallic chink. He travels both by day 

 and night, and from the sky we hear his watchword as he signals his 

 companions. 



The wild-rice marshes of our coasts and rivers are the rendezvous 

 of the countless flocks of Bobolinks, which later will invade South 

 America, stopping en route to visit the rice fields of South Carolina 

 and Georgia. They pass the winter south of the Amazon, and in 

 March or April begin their northward journey. The males, in flocks 

 of two or three hundred, precede the females by several days. They 

 reach Florida about April 25, and are then in full song. Only one 

 who has heard the Bobolink sing can form an idea of the effect pro- 

 duced by a flock of three hundred singing in chorus. 



495. Molothrus-ater (Bodd.). Cowbird. Ad. $ .—Head, neck, and 



breast coffee-brown ; rest of the plumage glossy black, with metallic bluish 



and greenish reflections. 'Ad. 9 . — 



Dark brownish gray, lighter below, 



especially on the throat. Yovng in 



first plumage. — Similar to the female, 



but whiter below, all the feathers 



edged with buffy. This plumage is 



worn but a short time, and is then 



p ,^ .^' changed for that of the adult. <5 L., 



^ ..' '^^ V. . .XT . , ^ 7-92 fw., 4-24; T., 3-03; B., -67. 



Fia. 77.— Cowbird (Natural size.) ' Ty a e <v f xi 



Range. — Breeds from Texas to New 



Brunswick and Manitoba; winters from southern Illinois southward. 



Washington, rather rare P. K., common T. V, Sing Sing, common S. R., 

 Mch. 22 to Nov. 11. Cambridge, very common S. R., Mch. 25 to Oct. 15 ; oc- 

 casional in winter. 



