Family ICTERID^. Blackbirds, Orioles, etc. 



Genus DOLICHONYX Swainson. 



DOLICHONYX ORYZIVORUS (Linn.). 



201. Bobolink. (494) 



Male: — In spring, Vilack ; cervix. l)ufl'; scapulars, rump and upper tail 

 coverts, ashy-white ; interscapulars streaked with black, Iniff and ashy ; outer 

 quills, edged with yellowish ; bill, blackish-horn ; feet, brown. Male in fall, 

 female and i/ohih/, entirely different in color ; yellowish-brown above, brownish- 

 yellow below ; crown and back conspicuously, nape, rump and sides less 

 broadly streaked with black ; crown, with a median and lateral light stripe ; 

 wings and tail, blackish, pale edged ; bill, brown. The male changing shows 

 confused characters of both sexes. Length, Ci-Tg ; wing, 85-4 ; tail, 2^-3 ; 

 tarsus, about 1 ; middle toe and claw, about 1|. 



Hab. — Eastern North America to the Great Plains, north to Southern 

 Canada, south in winter to the West Indies and South America. Breeds from 

 the Middle States northwai-d, and winters south of the United States. 



Nest, a cuji-shaped hollow in the ground in a hay-field ; lined with withered 

 grass. 



Eggs, four or five, brownish -white, heavily l)lotche(l and clouded with 

 chocolate-brown making the general appearance very dark. 



