BOBOLINK. 



494. Dolichonyx oryzivorus. 7% inches. 



Bobolinks are to be found in rich grass meadows, 

 from whence his sweet, wild music is often borne to us 

 by the breeze. While his mate is feeding in the grass 

 or attending to their domestic affairs, Mr. Bobolink is 

 usually to be found perched on the tip of a tree, weed 

 stalk, or even on a tall blade of grass, if no other spot 

 of vantage is available, singing while he stands guard 

 to see that no enemies approach. He is a good watch- 

 man and it is a difficult matter to flush his mate from 

 the nest, for she leaves at his first warning. 



Song. A wild, sweet, rippling repetition of his 

 name with many additional trills and notes. Alarm 

 note a harsh chah like that of the Blackbird. 



Nest. Of grasses in a hollow in the ground, in 

 meadows. They lay four to six eggs with a white 

 ground color, heavily spotted, clouded and blotched 

 with brown (.85x.62). 



Eange. N. A. east of the Rockies, breeding from 

 New Jersey and Kansas north to Manitoba and New 

 Brunswick; winters in South America. 



