BIRDS OF THE GARDEN AND ORCHARD. 43 



without singing, often hovering on the wing over the 

 place where his mate is sitting upon her ground-built 

 nest, and pouring forth his notes with the greatest loud- 

 ness and fluency. Vain are all the attempts of other 

 birds to imitate his truly original style. The Mocking- 

 Bird is said to give up the attempt in despair, and re- 

 fuses to sing at all when confined near one in a cage. 

 The Bobolink is not a shy bird during the breeding 

 season ; but when the young are reared and gathered in 

 flocks the whole species become very timid. Their food 

 consists entirely of insects during at least all the early 

 part of summer. Hence they are not frequenters of 

 the woods, but of the fields that supply their insect 

 food. They evidently have no liking for solitude. They 

 join with their own kindred, sometimes, during the 

 breeding season, in small companies, and in the latter 

 summer in large flocks. They love the orchard and the 

 mowing-field, and many are the nests which are exposed 

 by the scythe of the haymaker when performing his task 

 early in the season. 



THE O'LINCON FAMILY. 



A flock of merry singing-birds were sporting in the grove ; 

 Some were warbling cheerily and some were making love. 

 There were Bobolincon, Wadolincon, Winterseeble, Conquedle, 

 A livelier set were never led by tabor, pipe, or fiddle : 

 Crying, "Phew, shew, "Wadolincon ; see, see Bobolincon 

 Down among the tickle-tops, hiding in the buttercups ; 

 I know the saucy chap ; I see his shining cap 

 Bobbing in the clover there, see, see, see ! " 



Up flies Bobolincon, perching on an apple-tree ; 



Startled by his rival's song, quickened by his raillery. 



Soon he spies the rogue afloat, curvetting in the air, 



And merrily he turns about and warns him to beware ! 



" 'T is you that would a wooing go, down among the rushes ! 



Wait a week, till flowers are cheery ; wait a week, and ere you marry, 



Be sure of a house wherein to tarry ; 



Wadolink, Whiskodink, Tom Denny, wait, wait, wait ! " 



