OF NEW ENGLAND. 245 
appear to be their grand rendezvous. The reeds, or wild oats, 
furnish them with such abundance of nutritious food, that in 
a short time they become extremely fat; and are supposed, 
by some of our epicures, to be equal to the famous Ortolans 
of Europe. Their note at this season is a single chink, and 
is heard over head, with little intermission, from morning to 
night.” After attacking the rice-fields of the South, many 
proceed to the West Indies, reaching Jamaica, where they are 
called ‘* Butter-birds,” ‘‘in the month of October.” Gosse 
adds that they visit ‘“‘the guinea-grass fields, in flocks amount- 
ing to five hundred or more.” 
(d). What adjectives can describe the Bobolink in May and 
June? He is jolly, rollicking, madly happy, recklessly happy. 
Nothing sober pleases him; he perches on the elm, because its 
branches rock and wave in the breeze more than those of 
another tree;. then he spreads his wings, and, bursting into 
ecstatic song, sails to the ground, perhaps caresses his mate, 
then soars again to another perch, and again carols. Who 
imagines that he has any control over his merry music? It is 
a scientific fiction. His song is like champagne, and his notes 
bubble out, when he opens his bill; and yet, just as too much 
champagne is surfeiting, so may be too much of his merry 
jingle. 
From his notes originate his name “ Bobolink,” and perhaps 
the Indian name ‘‘Conqueedle” (of the orthography I am un- 
certain) ; and from them has been formed the following amus- 
ing version of his song, which, if repeated rapidly with a rising 
inflection in each part, illustrates it very well: 
“Tom Noodle, Tom Noodle, you owe me, you owe me, ten 
shillings and sixpence: 
‘J paid you, I paid you; you didn’t, you didn’t; you lie, 
you lie; you cheat!” 
The ordinary note of the Bobolink is a peculiarly metallic 
chuck, but there are also others less often heard, some of which 
are slightly querulous. 
