235 



I am convinced that the great balk of these migrants pass up the Athmtic 

 ■Coast and seek their summer homes in this region from the east or southeast. 

 The migrants that are seen with us are exceedingly few compared with the im- 

 mense numbers that frequent our Northern meadows and prairies. While it is 

 true they migrate at night, yet we see neither the weary resting by day nor hear 

 the noise of the winging hordes by night. In the East it is commonly said that 

 their unmistakable voices come to the listener as one of the characteristic sounds 

 of the warm nights in early May. Who has had such an experience among us ? 

 Strange as it may seem, the birds in their original breeding range, and in South- 

 ern Michigan generally, arrive as soon— and in some cases actually sooner — than 

 they do in the localities farther south, where they more recently began to nest. It 

 is further true that often the corresponding dates of first arrival, etc., of the sched- 

 ule are as early — and not infrequently earlier — in the old summer home than they 

 are in the localities southward, where they occur only as migrants. This may be 

 another clew from which further investigation will derive a point tending to show 

 the route of the migration of the bulk of the Bobolinks to these breeding grounds 

 is farther to the eastward, and earlier, and not across the interior States of the 

 Mississippi and Ohio Valleys. 



While Bobolinks, singly or few in number, migrate very early, as heretofore 

 stated, most of them are actually noted between April 27th and May 8th. This 

 may in some years be a day or two earlier, in others a few days later. The date 

 at which they have been noted as common in various localities in general may be 

 said to range from May 1st to loth. The males precede the females by from two 

 days to two weeks, averaging at least a week earlier. They are the features of the 

 early clover field as it comes into bloom. The blossoms of the small red clover 

 (I'rifolium pratense) and the Bobolink come together. 



For reference I give at the end of this paper a synopsis of the reports received 

 for the years 1885 to 189ti, both inclusive. These reports include not only obser- 

 vations from Indiana, but also some reports from correspondents in Ohio, Illinois 

 and Michigan. I desire to thank them all, and also to express my appreciation 

 of the courtesies extended to me by Dr. C. Hart Merriam, Chief of the Biological 

 Survey of the United States Department of Agriculture. 



When the Bobolinks come north in the spring the males wear an attractive 

 livery of black, with white and light brownish markings above. They are attired 

 for the opera. Their exquisite songs and lively, cheery, droll ways which form a 

 characteristic feature of the life ot a locality where they abound are shown to 

 please the other sex — to make them attractive to the females and not to please you 

 and me. But in fact we do derive much enjoyment from tiieir life and song. 



