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THE RICE BIRD. 



Icterus AGBiPENNis, Ch. Bonap. 



PLATE LIV. Male and Female. 



Verv few of these birds pass through Louisiana in spring, and still 

 fewer, on their return, in autumn ; for which reason I am inclined to 

 think that they do not spend the winter months so much in the Southern 

 parts of America as in some of the West India Islands. Indeed, I am 

 the more inclined to beheve this to be the case, that they seldom pene- 

 trate far into the interior, during their stay with us, but prefer the dis- 

 tricts bordering upon the Atlantic, through which they pass and repass 

 in incredible numbers. 



In Louisiana, small detached flocks of males or of females appear 

 about the middle of March and beginning of April, alighting in the mea- 

 dows and grain-fields, where they pick up the grubs and insects found 

 about the roots of the blades. I have heard it asserted, though I can- 

 not give it as a fact, that the appearance of the Rice Bird in spring 

 forebodes a bad harvest. The idea probably originates from the circum- 

 stance that these birds do not pass through Louisiana regularly every 

 year, there being sometimes three or four springs in succession in which 

 they are not observed. 



The plumage of many of the males at this early season still resembles 

 that of the females, but it changes in the course of their stay, which is 

 seldom more than a fortnight. I have ascertained this fact by dissecting 

 many at this period, when, notwithstanding the dull colour of their plu- 

 mage, I found the sexual organs greatly developed, which is not the case 

 in autumn, even in the old males. I had another clew to the discovery 

 of this fact. No sooner did a flock of females make its appearance, than 

 these dull-looking gentlemen immediately paid them such particular at- 

 tention, and sang so vehemently, that the fact of their being of a difl*erent 

 sex became undeniable. 



Here they pass under the name of Meadow Birds. In Pennsylvania 

 they are called Reed Birds, in Carolina Rice Buntings, and in the State 

 of New York Boblinhs. The latter appellation is given to them as far 

 eastward as they are known to proceed for the purpose of breeding. 



During their sojourn in Louisiana, in spring, their song, which is 



