PASSERES — ICTERID^. 139 



Family Icterid^. Blackbirds, Orioles, Meadowlarks, etc. 



Most members of this family are among the best known 

 of our birds, because they either live about dwellings or 

 in our parks, or because they are conspicuous in either color 

 or voice. Their food habits are discussed in detail under 

 each species. 



177. (494.) DoLicHONYX oryzivorus (Linn.). 114. 

 Bobolink. 



Synonyms: Icterus agripennis, Fringula oryzivorus. 



Reedbird, Ricebird, White-winged Blackbird, Skunk Black- 

 bird, Bob Lincoln, Butterbird, Ortolan, Meadow-wink, May- 

 bird. 



Nuttall, Manual, I, 1832, 185. 



In his full wedding dress the Bobolink is a well-known 

 bird, but in his traveling suit of drab and yellow he is to 

 most persons a common sparrow. I was somewhat sur- 

 prised to learn that while the Bobolink is one of our most 

 familiar meadow inhabitants in northern Ohio, it is not 

 found at all during the summer in the southern part, only 

 passing through as a migrant twice a year. I found it 

 breding sparingly at both the Licking and Lewiston res- 

 ervoirs. It is reported as common all summer as far south 

 as Delaware, but apparently at the Licking reservoir it is 

 near its southern breeding limit. 



Being a meadow haunting bird, its appearance in the 

 state must have followed the disappearance of the forests, 

 except in the more open north-western counties. Dr. Whea- 

 ton places its first appearance in Geauga county in 1857. 



Bobolink reaches Lorain county during the last week of 

 April. The males change their garb during July and early 

 August, after which the species may be found in flocks of 

 varying size, making ready for their journey to the Florida 

 rice fields. They are gone by the middle of September. In 

 the southern part of the state they remain but about a week 

 after their first appearance in spring, and return again dur- 

 ing the second week in September, to remain but a few 

 days. 



