254 Bird Studies. 



The Bobolink is almost a synonym for summer. He comes to us on the 



flood tide of life in gay coat and with a marvellous song which are almost as 



_ . ,. , evanescent as the first color and texture of the leaves. He 



Bobohnk. • t i i t i j i 



Doiichonyx oryzivorus IS here and gone with the long June days, and to such as 



(Lmn.). have known him is associated with them as one of their 



greatest charms. Early July finds him silent, and moulting he becomes an in- 

 conspicuous bird sought by the gourmand as a table delicacy and known by 

 the name of " Reedbird," " Ricebird," or " Pink." He is a bird about seven 

 inches and a quarter long. 



The male Bobolink is almost as gay in his parti-colored dress as the 

 flower decked meadow over which he hovering sings, — a song that only a 

 poet can interpret. 



" What the fun was I could n't discover ; 

 Language of birds is a riddle on earth ; 

 What could they find in white-weed and clover 

 To split their sides with such musical mirth ? 



" Was it some prank of the prodigal summer, 

 Face in the cloud or voice in the breeze, 

 Querulous cat-bird, woodpecker drummer, 

 Cawing of crows high over the trees ? 



" Still they flew tipsily, shaking all over, 

 Bubbling with jollity, brimful of glee. 

 While I sat listening, deep in the clover. 

 Wondering what their jargon could be. 



" 'T was but the voice of a morning, the brightest 

 That ever dawned over yon shadowy hills ; 

 'T was but the song of all joy that is lightest — 

 Sunshine breaking in laughter and trills. 



" Vain to conjecture the words they are singing ; 

 Only by tones can we follow the tune 

 In the full heart of the summer fields ringing. 

 Ringing the rhythmical gladness of June." 



— Christopher P. Cranch. 



He has the entire lower parts clear black, which extends to the sides of the 

 face and neck and to the top of the fore part of the head. There is a fine 

 buff cap on the back of the head defined by the black of the back of the neck 

 and upper back. This black area is more or less striped with buff. Back of it 

 the back is grayish, shading into clear white on the rump and feathers above 

 the tail. The tail is black and its feathers are sharply pointed. The wings 



