BOBOLINK. 1 1 1 



the ground in a slight depression, usually in a field of meadow- 

 grass, either in a dry or moist situation, and consists merely of 

 a loose bedding of withered grass, so inartificial as scarcely to 

 be distinguishable from the rest of the ground around it. The 

 eggs are 5 or 6, of a dull white, inchning to olive, scattered all 

 over with small spots and touches of lilac brown, with some 

 irregular blotches of dark rufous brown, chiefly disposed to- 

 wards the larger end. 



The males, arriving a little earlier than the other sex, now 

 appear very vigorous, lively, and familiar. Many quarrels 

 occur before the mating is settled ; and the females seem at first 

 very coy and retiring. Emulation fires the Bobolink at this 

 period, and rival songsters pour out their incessant strains of 

 enlivening music from every fence and orchard tree. The 

 quiet females keep much on the ground ; but as soon as they 

 appear, they are pursued by the ardent candidates for their 

 affection, and if either seems to be favored, the rejected suitor 

 is chased off the ground, as soon as he appears, by his more 

 fortunate rival. The song of the male continues with little in- 

 terruption as long as the female is sitting, and his chant, at all 

 times very similar, is both singular and pleasant. Often, like 

 the Skylark, mounted, and hovering on the wing, at a small height 

 above the field, as he passes along from one tree-top or weed 

 to another, he utters such a jingling medley of short, variable 

 notes, so confused, rapid, and continuous, that it appears 

 almost like the blending song of several different birds. Many 

 of these tones are very agreeable ; but they are delivered with 

 such rapidity that the ear can scarcely separate them. The 

 general effect, however, like all the simple efforts of Nature, is 

 good, and when several are chanting forth in the same meadow, 

 the concert is very cheerful, though monotonous, and somewhat 

 quaint. Among the few phrases that can be distinguished, the 

 liquid sound of bob-o-lee bob-o-link bob-o-linke, is very distinct. 

 To give an idea of the variable extent of song, and even an 

 imitation, in some measure, of the chromatic period and air of 

 this familiar and rather favorite resident, the boys of this part 

 of New England make him spout, among others, the following 



