82 • General Notes. [f^^ 



but it is of irregular distribution." Tliis is a proven fact and as a conse- 

 quence the Bobolink, or Reedbird as it is called here in fall, is one of the 

 first transients to arrive in late summer or fall from its breeding grounds. 

 The following dates constitute my records of its arrival on the Delaware 

 River marshes in the vicinity of Philadelphia, where it is then an exceed- 

 ingly abundant bird: — 



1897, August 16 — one. 1904, August 13 — several. 



1898, July 18 — several. 1905, August 4 — one. 



1899, August 14 — many. 1906, July 24 — several. 



1900, August 6 — many. 1907, July 28 — one. 



1901, August 28 — several. 1908, August 3 — one. 



1902, July 21 — seven. 1909, August 5 — one. 



1903, August 10 — one. 



The remarks following the dates refer to the number of individuals seen, 

 and it will be noted that the earlier birds generally arrive singly or in 

 small numbers — the bulk never put in an appearance until well along in 

 August. 



The table shows several unusually early records of arrivals, and these 

 contrast strongly with the August 25 record of arrivals given in Stone's 

 book (page 105). Warren also gives this time as the date of their appear- 

 ance, for he says in his ' Birds of Pennsylvania,' 2d revised edition, page 

 207: "After the breeding season the Reedbird (both sexes), about the 

 middle of August, again makes their appearance in our meadows and grain 

 fields at this time . . . . " My experience is that they arrive first on the 

 wild rice (called reed here, hence the name Reedbird) marshes and my 

 records bear me out, as it is in them I have always seen my first fall 

 arrivals. 



So far as I have been able to decide, the first birds to put in an appear- 

 ance are always the adults, and they come in all kinds of moulting plum- 

 ages, adult males not uncommonly being seen, and albinos are by no means 

 rare. One of the latter, taken on the Delaware River marshes above 

 Philadelphia, is mounted and in the possession of a local taxidermist. 

 It is a fine bird, of a light straw or pale canary yellow all over, the edgings 

 of the wing and tail feathers white, the feet and bill flesh-colored; the 

 eyes were of the normal color. 



On the Delaware River marshes the Reedbird or "Reedie," as it is more 

 familiarly called, is a common game bird, and may be killed from September 

 1 to January in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and they are annually 

 killed (literally slaughtered) in immense numbers and sold in city markets. 

 They bring from 75 cents to $2.00 per dozen, prices varying according to 

 supply, demand, and quality and condition of the birds. The unscrupu- 

 lous dealer often imposes upon the ignorant buyer and sells him English 

 Sparrows for Reedbirds, and when plucked these birds resenible the succu- 

 lent Reedbirds in appearance but not in taste when cooked. In this con- 

 dition they are often bought by game dealers and, as I have said, sold by 



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