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the upper parts light yellowish-brown, streaked with blackish 

 brown ; lower parts light grayish-yellow, deeper on the breast ; the 

 sides marked with dusky. Length seven inches, wing three and 

 three quarters. 



In the State of New York, this bird is familiarly known by the 

 name of " Bob-o-link ;" in Pennsylvania it is called " Reed Bird ;" 

 and at the South, " Rice Bird." 



In the latter part of the month of May the Rice Bird arrives 

 among us from the South, and continues with us during the sum- 

 mer. Associated in large flocks, it resorts to the fields and mea- 

 dows. Its food consists of various insects and seeds, on which it 

 becomes very fat, and is considered a delicacy. 



The nest is placed upon the ground, and formed of dry leaves 

 and coarse grass ; the eggs, four in number, are bluish-white, ir- 

 regularly spotted with blackish-brown. It is frequently taken in 

 trap cages, and exposed for sale in the market. It soon becomes 

 reconciled to confinement, and delivers a variety of pleasing notes ; 

 but with the loss of liberty, its voice loses much of its clearness, and 

 does not compare with the sweet notes it is heard to chant when 

 hovering in the air. 



The change of plumage, from spring to fall, to which the male 

 is subject, has been a matter of much controversy. In the fall, the 

 males assume the dress of the females, which has induced many 

 persons to suppose that all those which returned to them in the fall, 

 were females. 



