XIII 



THE BOBOLINK 



The woods have changed from the 

 purple of swelling buds to the tender 

 grayish green of opening leaves, and the 

 sward is green again with new grass, 

 when this pied troubadour, more faithful 

 to the calendar than leaf or flower, comes 

 back from his southern home to New 

 England meadows to charm others than 

 his dusky ladylove with his merry song. 

 He seldom disappoints us by more than 

 a day in the date of his arrival, and never 

 fails to receive a kindly welcome, though 

 the fickle weather may be unkind. 



" The bobolinks have come " is as joy- 

 ful a proclamation as announces the re- 

 turn of the bluebird and robin. Here no 

 shotted salute of gun awaits him, and he 

 is aware that he is in a friendly country. 

 Though he does not court familiarity, he 

 tolerates approach ; and permits you to 

 come within a dozen yards of the fence 

 S6 



