OF NEW ENGLAND. 243 
inappropriate, since ‘“‘ they are generally considered, for size 
and delicacy, but little inferior to the quail.” They are in the 
fall even more shy than before, though in winter, at the South, 
‘they swarm among the rice plantations,” says Wilson, ‘‘run- 
ning about the yards and out-houses, accompanied by the Kill- 
deers,®4 with little appearance of fear, as if quite domesticated.” 
(d). The Meadow Larks have a single rather shrill note or 
whistle, another note which is much like that of the Night 
‘* Hawk,” a peculiar guttural chatter, and a plaintive whistle, 
consisting of four or five notes (of which the first and third are 
usually higher than those immediately succeeding, and the last 
most dwelt upon). Though subject to such variation as some- 
times to suggest the songs of two different species, their 
music always expresses the same sweetness, plaintiveness, and 
almost wildness. It is uttered, not only from the ground and 
from the tree-tops, but very often when the birds are on the 
wing. 
II. DOLICHONYX 
(A) oryzivorus, Bobolink. Reed-bird. Rice-bird. “Skunk 
Blackbird.” 
(A common summer-resident throughout the north-eastern 
United States.) 
(a). g@, about 73 inches long. From arrival in New 
England until August, black; hind-neck, buff, interscapulars 
streaked with the same; shoulders, rump, and upper tail-cov- 
erts, nearly white. At other times like 9 ; yellowish-brown 
above, darkly or blackly streaked (as are also the sides) ; 
wings and tail, dark, with pale edgings; median and supercili- 
ary stripes, and under parts, brownish-yellow. 
(>). The nest is built upon the ground, in fields of long 
grass, or in meadows, and is more or less concealed. It is 
usually finished, near Boston, in the last week of May. The 
eggs are four or five, averaging ‘90 X -70 of an inch, and are’ 
white, tinged with brown, gray, or rarely green, and generally 
&4 A kind of plover. 
