T1IK BOBOLL\/\. 121 



poorest of foods. When caged, the principal seeds given him are the canary and 

 initialled rice mixed ; as the canary-seed is very fattening, too much of it should not 

 be given him : and, when he is noticed to be in a gouty condition, the canary-seed 

 should be withdrawn, and only the uuhulled rice fed. He has a most voracious 

 appetite, and overeating is the cause of all his diseases : therefore, when giving him 

 his daily seeds, feed only in small quantities. He enjoys all the physical comforts 

 you may offer, accepts greedily any dainties, tumbles lazily into the bath-tub, rolls 

 out again in a seemingly contented frame, and sings himself dry in the sunniest spot 

 he can find. Then he ploughs through the gravel, finds a piece that he thinks is 

 heavy enough to hold down that last too solid luncheon, swallows it, then sings again. 



Time seems very precious to the Bobolink ; lie makes the most of every moment : 

 he eats many hearty meals during the day, and each one is apparently enjoyed more 

 than its predecessor ; but, when he is not eating, he is singing. 



The chief ailment to guard against is gluttony, his habits of eating : if too 

 much and too rich food is given him, it will interfere with his song, and render him 

 fit only for the cook's hands. The Bobolink, when caged, cannot possibly obtain 

 the exercise which is necessary to keep him from growing fat ; and, therefore, the 

 simplest food, and no dainties, should be given. He will obtain supply enough from 

 the plain food to make up for any deficiency hi the dainties. A good-sized cage 

 should be given him, and a plentiful supply of gravel furnished. 



The daily bath should not be neglected ; because, with all his lazy habits, Robert 

 is an extremely clean bird, and delights in a fresh dress every day. He is not a fit 

 inmate for an aviary ; because, with his love of eating, he would quickly starve the 

 other inmates out of prison. 



For breeding purposes he is rarely used ; and, until the farmers find a method of 

 partly exterminating his almost numberless race, he will probably be allowed to 

 choose his own native breeding-place. 



The cheap cost of the Bobolink, combined with his sociable manners and charm- 

 ing song, certainly render him a very attractive cage-bird ; but his very numbers, 

 and domesticated habits, when wild, guard him against trapping for this purpose : 

 he is rarely seen caged in the country villages or towns. What need of caging one 

 when before every house a whole chorus, continually changing, is heard day after 

 day? In the city bird-shops they may always be found, and are always greeted 

 as old friends when the country folk pay a visit to the town. 



Many amusing mistakes are made by the change of plumage of the Bobolink, 

 and many people who only know him in his spring suit are surprised at his compara- 

 tively shabby condition when seen in his winter garb. 



An old friend, who supposed himself to be a bird-fancier, was induced to buy 

 one in this condition of plumage : and although he insisted that the bird was a 

 linnet, an absurd mistake, by the way, he finally bought him, and, because the 

 bird did not sing in two days, opened the window, and permitted the bird to fly ; 

 thus losing a fine songster, to say nothing of a most delicious meal. 



It was some time before the earlier naturalists could be induced to accept the 

 theory that the male Bobolinks changed their plumage and resembled the females 

 in the autumn ; although they could not, at the same time, account for the heartless 

 conduct of the males in deserting their mates, and seeking unknown regions. 



