BbiS KliJ/OUT Oi'' tSTATJ!) (i KOLOCilH'l'. 



originally oecujiied as early or earlier than i.hey are further Houtliward, 

 where they are only rare migrants. And the small numbers that pass 

 in the spring cannot be compared to the multitudes found breeding 

 northward. In the southern portion of the State, the following will 

 give the earliest and latest dates in a series of years when the first 

 Bobolink was seen in spring: Bicknell, April 38, 1896; May 3, 1894 

 and 1897; Bloomington, April 17, 1885, May 6, 1882 and 1888; Brook- 

 ville, April 6, 1890 (the earliest record for the State), and May 5, 

 1881; Moore's Hill, April 23, 1893, April 27, 1888; Greensburg, April 

 26, 1896, May 8, 1895; Terre Haute, May 3, 1890, May 13, 1889. In 

 the southern part of norihera Indiana, they appear a little later, from 

 May 2 to 11. 



At Muncie they were first seen May 6, 1893, and May 11, 1890; 

 Lafayette, May 5, 1890; May 7, 1892; Red Key, May 2, 1895; North 

 Manchester, May 3, 1896. Farther north, where they breed com- 

 monly, they are usually first seen between April 26 and May 5, most 

 always by May 9; Lake County, April 27, 1887; May 8, 1889; Dekalb 

 County, April 27, 1896; May 9, LS89; Laporte, April 27, 1894; Wayne 

 County, Mich., April 26, 1896; April 27, 1892, and 1893; Petersburg, 

 Mich., April 28, 1891. May 2, 1886, 1889, 1892 and 1893. 



The males usually precede tlio females by from two days to twc^ 

 weeks. Tlu' crowning glory of |ir;iiri(' life in llic sjiring is llic lively 

 aiiiics, IIh' ardent courtships and. ;il>(i\(' all. llic licantil'ul nni<ic of llic 

 Uuholink, wlicllicr (Mi llic ground, in a li'cclo|) or in midair, his swcci 

 song cojiics lo lis willi llic |icrtiiiiic of early cloNcr blossoms. 

 These remain twin im|)ressioiis, iiidelilily iiii|)rcssc(| iipon one's mind. 

 The wife builds lier nesi of straws, grasses and weeds, on the ground, 

 usually in a. depression, Inil soinctinics in a lull of grass, and there 

 a.ssunu's tlie duties of inciiliatioii and the care of a Tainilv. 'I'lic liiis- 

 l)a.nd is the stylish and attractivi^ meiidn'r ol' (he raniily. "She broods 

 in the grass while her husband sings." Tlic reinale Bobolink in spring, 

 and both sexes and young in fall, are a puz.zle to young students of 

 birds, ^riie male lu^ can readily determine, hut the s[»arrow-likc dress 

 of the female in the spring, and of both adults and young in the fall, 

 cause him much perplexity. Fresh I'ggs are usually to be foimd from 

 May 2(» to June 5. Between Jyne 15 and July 5, the nests usually 

 contain young. The males keep up their singing until the beginning 

 of July, and then suddenly stop, change their dress to that of the fe- 

 male and become songless. Only a metallic click is then uttered. I 

 have found them in full song at Eagle Lake as late as July 4. It is 

 generally thought they leave about July 20. \\'Iiile a few may start 

 upon their return journey then, the greater number seek good feed- 



