105 



218. JDolichonyx oryzivorns (Lixx.). Bobolink. Reed- 

 bird. 



Breeding Range — Northern portion of eastern U. S. and southern 



Canada (mahily north of Pennsylvania). 

 Winter Distribution — West Indies and S. A. 



Regular migrant, occurring in large flocks, May 1-15 and August 

 25-September 20, mainly along the large river marshes, and very 

 abundant in fall. Occurs on the coast in fall, but is rare during 

 the spring migration. 



The Bobolink is a regular breeder in the northern parts of Penn- 

 sylvania and New Jersey, but seems to be irregularly distributed. It 

 has been reported to breed in Bradford and Susquehanna counties 

 ( Warreii's Report), and formerly at Englewood and Passaic, N. J. 

 ( Chapman). 



In 1885 a number of Bobolinks were seen during the breeding 

 season by Mr. S. N. Rhoads at Croydon Station, Bucks county, Pa., 

 and no doubt bred there, though we have no absolute proof.* 



219. 3Iolothrtts ater (Bodd.). Cowbird. 



Breeding Range — U. S. and southern Canada. 

 Winter Distribution — Southern States and Mexico. 



Common throughout from April to October in small flocks. 



At Cape May, N. .J., the Cowbird has been found in .January as- 

 sociating with the flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds {Stone and 

 Rhoads), and it probably winters in other suitable localities in the 

 southern part of the State. 



[_220.'\ Xaiithocephalus xanthoeephalus (Bonap.). 

 Yellow-headed Blackbird. 



Breeding Range — JIarshes of western U. S. 



An accidental straggler from the west. 



A young male was shot on the marshes below Philadelphia, 

 August, 1851, by Mr. John Krider, and is now in the collection of 

 the Academy of Natural Sciences (No. 3745). Another specimen 

 in the same collection was secured by a gunner about 1890 at Tuck- 

 erton, N. J., and was mounted by Mr. Gross, a taxidermist of 



*The Bobolink has been said to have bred in Chester county, Pa., and along 

 the Maurice river, N. J., but we have been unable to verify these reports. 



