A.O Chapman on the Winter Distribution of the. Bobolink. [January 



capture without giving the data of its occurrence, thus rendering 

 impossible a satisfactory study of its migration or an accurate 

 knowledge of the area it inhabits during the winter. 



In the neighborhood of New York City the Bobolink com- 

 mences its southern migration in July, great numbers flocking 

 at this season in the wild rice {Zizania aqiiatica) marshes, and 

 here many remain until early October, at which date their less 

 tardy comrades have already reached the island of Jamaica. 

 From Dr. Merriam's report* we learn that our bird, now a Rice- 

 bird, appears in the rice fields of South Carolina and Georgia 

 from August 15 to 21, and here, apparently content with their 

 surroundings, they remain for several weeks without making 

 further advance. In Cuba Gundlachf records their arrival in Sep- 

 tember in immense flocks, which remain only for a short time 

 and then continue their journey southward. 



Now appears an interesting question concerning their further 

 line of flight. Three routes are open to them ; ( 1 ) they may go 

 to the westward, following the Cuban coast, thence, crossing to 

 Cozumel and Yucatan, pursue their migration along the Central 

 American coast to Panama, etc. ; ( 2 ) they may go to the east- 

 ward through Hayti, San Domingo, and Porto Rico, and thence 

 southward through the Windward Islands ; or ( 3 ) they may 

 strike out boldly and take the more direct course, crossing the sea 

 to Jamaica and then in one extended flight reach the mainland of 

 northern South America. An examination of the published 

 records of the bird's occurrence shows that all three routes are 

 followed to a greater or less extent, but it is apparent that com- 

 paratively few birds go as far east as the Windward Chain, while 

 perhaps as many go through Jamaica as pass down the Central 

 American coast. The records, however, from the last-named 

 region ai - e too brief to permit of satisfactory conclusions being 

 drawn from them, and I merely present them as they stand. 

 From Cozumel the Bobolink is recorded by Salvin,J who also 

 states§ that many examples were taken by Gaumer in Yucatan 

 and on the islands oft' the east coast of Honduras. From Hon- 



* Dept. of Agriculture, 1886. Report of the Ornithologist and Mammalogist , pp. 

 248-249. 



t Journal fur Ornithologie, 1874, p. 129. 



\ Ibis, 1885, p. 191. 



§ Biologia Centrali-Americana, Aves, p. 448. 



