BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 97 



FAM. ICTERIU^. 



STARLINGS. 



DOLICHONYX ORYZIVORUS. {Linn.) 

 Bobolink. 



Adtilt Male. — General plumage, black; patch on the base of 

 the skull, buff ; scapulars, rump, and upper tail-coverts, white ; pri- 

 maries edged with yellowish ; tail feathers very acute. 



Fall Plumage, Male and Female. — Above, yellowish brown, 

 streaked with black or dark brown ; under parts, yellowish. 



Length 6.50, wing 3.60, tail 2.55, tarsus .95. 



I have never met with the Bobolink in the Bahamas, but include 

 it on Dr. Bryant's authority, who says : " On the evening of the 

 6th of May, towards sunset, I saw a number of flocks of birds flying 

 to the westward, and counted nine in all. This was on Friday. 

 The next day the country was filled with Rice Birds, as they are 

 called there, and boys and men in large numbers turned out to 

 shoot them. I examined a quantity of them, all of which were 

 males in full plumage. Numerous flocks still continued to arrive 

 during this day and Sunday. On Monday, among those shot, were 

 many females. On Tuesday only a few were to be seen, and on 

 Wednesday they had entirely disappeared." 



Fig. Aud. Bds. N. A., Vol IV. pi. 211. 

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