OF NEW ENGLAND. 243 



inappropriate, since " they are generally considered, for size 

 and delicacy, but little inferior to the quail." They are in the 

 fall even more shy than before, though in winter, at the South, 

 "they swarm among the rice plantations," says Wilson, "run- 

 ning about the yards and out-houses, accompanied by the Kill- 

 deers, 84 with little appearance of fear, as if quite domesticated." 

 (d). The Meadow Larks have a single rather shrill note or 

 whistle, another note which is much like that of the Night 

 41 Hawk," a peculiar guttural chatter, and a plaintive whistle, 

 consisting of four or five notes (of which the first and third are 

 usually higher than those immediately succeeding, and the last 

 most dwelt upon) . Though subject to such variation as some- 

 times to suggest the songs of two different species, their 

 music always expresses the same sweetness, plaintiveness, and 

 almost wildness. It is uttered, not only from the ground and 

 from the tree-tops, but very often when the birds are on the 

 wing. 



II. DOLICHONYX 



(A) ORYZIVORUS. Bobolink. Reed-bird. Rice-bird. "Skunk 

 Blackbird." 



(A common summer-resident throughout the north-eastern 

 United States.) 



(a). <, about 7 inches long. From arrival in New 

 England until August, black; hind-neck, buff, interscapulars 

 streaked with the same ; shoulders, rump, and upper tail-cov- 

 erts, nearly white. At other times like 9 ; yellowish-brown 

 above, darkly or blackly streaked (as are also the sides) ; 

 wings and tail, dark, with pale edgings ; median and supercili- 

 ary stripes, and under parts, brownish-yellow. 



(b). The nest is built upon the ground, in fields of long 

 grass, or in meadows, and is more or less concealed. It is 

 usually finished, near Boston, in the last week of May. The 

 eggs are four or five, averaging -90 X '70 of an inch, and are 

 white, tinged with brown, gray, or rarely green, and generally 



84 A kind of plover. 





