BOBOLINK. 31 



practice the same wiles on them they can dis- 

 cover nothing. What a pity the poor birds can't 

 tell friends from enemies. They treat me as if I 

 were a brigand ; but if they knew I wanted to 

 peep at their pretty eggs and admire their house- 

 keeping arrangements, how gladly they would show 

 me about ! 



After noticing the clear cut, direct flight of the 

 robin, the undulating flight of the bluebird, and 

 the circling and zigzagging of the swift, you will 

 study with interest the labored sallies and eccen- 

 tricities of the bobolink. When he soars, he 

 turns his wings down till he looks like an open 

 umbrella ; and when getting ready to light in the 

 grass puts them up sail fashion, so that the um- 

 brella seems to be turned inside out. Indeed, 

 from the skillful way he uses his wings and tail 

 to steer and balance himself, you might think he 

 had been trained for an acrobat. 



The most animated song of the bobolink is 

 given on the wing, although he sings constantly 

 in the grass, and on low trees and bushes. The 

 most exuberantly happy of all our birds, he seems 

 to contain the essence of summer joy and sun- 

 shine. " Bobolinkum-linkum-deah-deaJi-deah " he 

 warbles away, the notes fairly tumbling over each 

 other as they pour out of his throat. Up from 

 the midst of the buttercups and daisies he starts 

 and flies along a little way, singing this joyous 

 song with such light - hearted fervor that he is 



