varied and rapid that it seems like a medley produced by 

 several birds singing together. Many attempts have been 

 made to put his song into words, but few persons agree on the 

 sounds which they hear. One phrase that* is quite distinct may 

 be written, boh-o-lee, bob-o-ling, bob-o-link-e. His happy 

 song diminishes gradually and drops out altogether as the 

 season advances to midsummer. About this time the male 

 changes his dress and appears in plain brown like his wife and 

 children. This suit he wears until the next spring when he 

 again puts on bright feathers and takes, up his old love song 

 anew. 



During their stay in the North, these birds live upon 

 insects and the seeds of useless plants. About the middle of 

 August, great flocks of them move southward together, stopping 

 to feed on the wild-rice marshes of the rivers of the Atlantic 

 coast. Here the gay Bobolink of the Nprth becomes the fat, 

 toothsome Reedbird or Ricebird of the South. Great numbers 

 of them are killed for food during th^ few weeks of their 

 migration. Unfortunately the rice fields of the South lie in 

 the direct line of migration of these birds and during Septem- 

 ber they feast upon this grain causing a serious loss to the 

 planters. By the end of October they enter tropical countries 

 and winter as far south as the Amazon. 



131 



