74 THE KICK BUKTINt. 



In the month of May, these birds fix their abodes in thi 

 "savannahs" of Ohio and Michigan, and the cool p: 

 "meadows" of New York, Canada, and Neiv England lor thr 

 purpose, principally, for hatching and rearing their young. 

 The song of the male continues, with but little intcrrujr 

 during the period of incubation, and his chant, at all times 

 very similar, is both singular and pleasant tt 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 melody of short variable 

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

 ItJfflW* like the blending song of several different birds. 

 Many of these tones arc 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 chantnW forth in the 

 same meadow, the concert is very cheerful, thougftmonotonous, 

 and somewhat quaint Among the few phrases that can be dis- 

 tinguished, the liquid sound of Hob-o-ke, or Bob-v-link, Bob-o- 

 link*, is very distinct 



" To give an idea of the variable extent of song, and ev< 

 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, [Cambridge,] make him shout among others, 

 the following ludicrous dunning phrase, as ho rises and hovers 

 on the wing near his mate : * */&>6-o-/in&, 'Bob-o-link, "Tom 

 Denny, 'Tom Denny 'Come pay me the ttco-and-six-pence you're 

 owed men than a year and a half egn!'ishr 'tshe 'tshi, 'tsh '/& 

 V*fcr,' modestly diving at the same instant down into the grass, 

 as if to avoid altercation. However puerile this odd phrase 

 may appear, it is quite amusing to find how near it approaches 

 to the time, and expression of the notes, when pronounced in a 

 hurried manner."* 



This relish for song and merriment, confined wholly to the 

 male, diminishes as the period of incubation advances, and 

 when the young brood begin to flutter around their parents, 



NuttalL 



