AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 247 



j THAT BOBOLINK'S NEST, 



I think every schoolboy has had a desire, which in some cases de- 

 veloped into sort of a mania, to find a Bobolink's nest. Something in 

 the rollicking schoolboy fashion in which he renders his choice vocal 

 selections has appealed to our boys in a very fascinating way. It has 

 also appealed to us, the children of a larger growth. Who does not 

 appreciate the Bobolink's cheerful song? Who is not better, and more 

 cheerful for having heard it? See him as he sways back and forth on 

 that willow twig in the meadow yonder. Hear his medley of liquid 

 notes as they come from his tiny throat, as free and spontaneous as a 

 summer shower. 



As a boy I searched for the little nest with the brown, sparrowy mother, 



and always when I thought I had the key to the "home," I found it was 



not there. I will admit that others were more fortunate than I. Yet I 



determined to persevere, so as a man, whenever those rollicking notes 



came to me across the field, the desire was reawakened. Search as I 



would no nest seemed to be there. But one has said that, "perseverance 



is always rewarded." Thoreau also says, "What you seek in vain for, 



half your life, one day you come full upon all the family at dinner," and 



so it proved. Bob was singing in a tree, I was raking hay when swish! 



Something brown darted from under my very feet, down I went on my 



knees, and there nestled snugly in the side of a cradleknoll was the 



treasure I had sought so long, and often; the whole family at dinner, 



four of them; fluffy, sparrowy little birds. Two days later they were 



gone, yet with them went my best wishes, and I still retain the sweet 



memory of the pleasure I derived from those two short days. You ask 



has life lost all its charms for me, now I have found what I sought so 



long? I answer you nay. I am yet looking for a Bobolink's nest. 



Geo. R. Crockett. 



AMERICAN GOLDEN^EYE. 



A. 0- U. No. 151. (Clangula americana.) 



RANGE. 



Whole of North America, breeding from northern United States 

 north to the Arctic Ocean: winters in the United States south to the 

 Gulf of Mexico. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Length about 20 in.; female slightly smaller. Eye bright yellow. 

 Male. — entire head greenish black with a round white spot between 



