BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC. 359 



nest in the grasses below. What a wonderful song it is! An irrepressible 

 outburst; a flood of melody from a heart overflowing with the joy of 

 early slimmer. 



But this glad season is soon over. Even before the tide of the year 

 is full, the Bobolink begins to prepare for the long journey to his win- 

 ter resorts. Doffing his jaunty costume of black, white, and buff, he 

 dons the less conspicuous dress of his mate, and travels in disguise under 

 the assumed name of Reedbird or Ricebird. His voice is hushed, save 

 for a single call-note a metallic chink. He travels both by day and 

 night, and from the sky we hear his watchword as he signals his com- 

 panions. 



The wild-rice marshes of our coasts and rivers are the rendezvous 

 of the countless flocks of Bobolinks, which later will invade South 

 America, stopping en route to visit the rice fields of South Carolina 

 and Georgia. They pass the winter south of the Amazon, and in March 

 or April begin their northward journey. The males, in flocks of two or 

 three hundred, precede the females by several days. They reach Florida 

 about April 25, and are then in full song. Only one who has heard the 

 Bobolink sing can form an idea of the effect produced by a flock of 

 three hundred or more singing in chorus. 



495. Molothrus ater ater (Bodd.}. COWBIRD. Ad. <?. Head, neck, 

 and breast coffee-brown; rest of the plumage glossy black, with metallic 

 bluish and greenish reflections. Ad. 9 . Dark brownish gray, lighter below, 

 especially on the throat. Juvenal plumage. Similar to the female, but 

 whiter below, all the feathers edged with buffy. This plumage is worn but 

 a short time, and is then changed for that of the adult. <? L., 7*92; W., 4*24; 

 T., 3.03; B., '67. 



Range. N. A. Breeds from s. B. C., s. Mackenzie, s. Keewatin, Ont., 

 Que., and N. B. s. to n. Calif., Nev., n. N. M., Tex., La., and N. C.; winters 

 from se. Calif, and the Ohio and Potomac valleys (casually further n.) to 

 the Gulf coast and cen. Mex. 



Washington, rather rare P. R., common T. V. Ossining, common S. R., 

 Mch. 22-Nov. 11. Cambridge, common S. R., Mch. 25-Nov. 1; occasional 

 in winter. N. Ohio, abundant S. R., Mch. 10-Nov. 15. Glen Ellyn, common 

 S. R., Mch. 15-Sept. 10. SE. Minn., common S. R., Apl. 11-Aug. 19. 



Nest, none, the eggs being laid in the nests of (some 90 recorded) other 

 species. Eggs, white, evenly and distinctly speckled with cinnamon-brown 

 or umber, \S6 x '65. Date, Montgomery Co., Pa., May 10; Cambridge, 

 May 15. 



The Cowbird is an acknowledged villain, and has no standing in 

 the bird world. English Sparrows, either because they are not aware 

 of the customs of New World bird life, or because of a possible and 

 not unlikely affinity, associate with him; but no self-respecting American 

 bird should be found in his company. 



As an outcast he makes the best of things, and gathers about him 

 a band of kindred spirits who know no law. There is an air about the 

 group which at once tells the critical observer that their deeds are evil. 

 No joyous song swells the throat of the male. His chief contribution 

 to the chorus of springtime is a guttural bubbling produced with appar- 

 ently nauseous effort. In small flocks they visit both pasture and wood- 



