390 LAND BIRDS 
Like the crows, these Ravens feed upon insects and 
animal food as well as grain, coming close to the abodes 
of men in their search for it. When their appetite has 
been appeased, they will hide the remainder of the feast 
under a stone or a piece of bark, in a hole or in the 
ground, as do squirrels. By vigorous excavating with 
their bills a pit is dug, into which the superfluous 
dainties are tucked, and the whole is again covered with 
dirt, which looks as if it had never been disturbed. In 
some occult way the bird remembers just where each 
bit is hidden, and never fails to return for it. 
Like the crows, also, they are found in large flocks ; 
even at breeding season they are somewhat gregarious ; 
but they are totally unlike the American ravens, in being 
easily tamed and in preferring the lowland deserts to 
the cliffs. In California they are found only in the 
southern and southeastern portions, and are nowhere 
very abundant. 
494. BOBOLINK. — Dolichonyx oryzivorus. 
Famity: The Blackbirds, Orioles, ete. 
Length : 7.00-§.00. 
Adult Male in Spring: General plumage black ; patch on hind-neck 
cream or buff ; wing and fore part of back lightly streaked ; scapulars 
grayish ; rump and upper tail-coverts white. 
Adult Female: General plumage yellowish brown, under parts paler ; 
upper parts and flanks streaked with blackish ; crown divided by a 
median buffy stripe. 
Adult Male in Winter: Similar to adult female, but streaks on upper 
parts blacker. 
Young: Similar to adult female, but more buffy, with necklace of faint 
dusky spots; flanks not streaked. 
