216 



L E ^y 1 s 



A M E 11 1 C A N SPORTS M A N. 



CHANGE OF PLUMAGE. 



We were shown, a few days since, a reed-bird, the j^lumage of 

 which was a perfect canary-color; and, if we had not recognised 

 the bird from its general outline, we should have pronounced it an 

 overgroivn canary, so complete was the change that had taken 

 place in its appearance. 



MEMORANDA. 



1. Reed-birds breed in the North, pass the summer in the 

 Middle States, the autumn in the South, and the winter in the 

 West Indies. 



2. In the North they are called bobolinks; in Pennsylvania and 

 Delaware, reed-birds ; in the South, rice-buntings or meadow-bird;^ ; 

 in Jamaica, butter-birds. 



3. They build their nests on the ground, and raise but one brood 

 in a season, consisting of from four to six young. 



4. The plumage of the males during the summer resembles that 

 of the females so closely that it is difficult to tell them apart ; the 

 young bird at this season also assimilates the female in its plumage. 



