178 DOLICHONYX OEYZIVOEUS, BOBOLINK. 



Family lOTERID^ : American Starlings. :• 



DOLICHONYX OEYZrVOBUS, (Linn.) Sw. 

 Bobolink; Keed-bird; Eice-bird 



K( 



Sich.). I yj-- 



Emberiza onjziwra, Linn., Syst. Nat. i, 1766, Z\\.~(^Hortulanu8 carolineusis, Bniss., Gru. 

 iii, 282, pi. 15, f. 3,- Ernberiza caroliniensis, Klein, 92).— G.m., i, 1788, 880.— 

 Lati!., Ind. Orn. i, 1790, 408.— Was., Am. Orn. ii, 1810, 48, pi. 12, f. 1, 2. 



Passerina onjzivora, Vieill., Nonv. Diet. cl'Hist. Nat. 1817, 3. 



Dolkhomjx ory:h-arits, Sw., Zool. Journ. iii, 1827, 351.— S-*\-. & ElCH., F. B. A. ii, 1831, 

 278.— Bp., List, 1838, 29; Cousp, i, 18o0, 437.— AxjD., Syn. 1839, 138.— Airo., B. 

 Am. iv, 184-2, 10, pi. 211.— Gould, Voy. Beagle, 1841, 106 (Galapagoes).— GiE., 

 B. L. I. 1844, 137.— GOSSE, B. Jam. 1847, 229.— Woodh., Sitgr. Rep. 1853, 81 

 (Texas and ludian Territory, migratory).— Cab., J. f. 0. iv, 1856, 11 (Cuba).— 

 Bd., B. N. a. 1858, 522.— Maxim., J. f. 0. 1858, 266.— Bryant, Pr. Bost. Soc. vii, 

 1859 (Bahamas).- SCL., P. Z. S. 1858, 72 ; Cat. 18C2, 134 (Bolivia ; St. Martha). 

 March, Pr. Phila. Acad. 1863, 299 (Jamaica).— Scl. & Salv., P. Z. S. 1870, 78i 

 (Venezuela). — Hayd., Rep. 1862, 169 (very common to Fort Pierre). — Coop., 

 Am. Nat. iii, 1869, 78.— Trippe, Pr. Ess. Inst, vi, 1871, 117 (Minnesota, not 

 common). — Snow, B. Kaus. 1673 (breeding; rare). — Allen, Ball. M. C. Z. iii, 

 1872, 178 (Ogden, Utah).— Mbrr., U. S. Geol. Surv. Ter. 1872, G.86 (Utah).— 

 CouEs, Key, 1872, 154, fig. 97.— Cass., Pr. Phila. Acad. 1866, 16 (Rio Negro, 

 Rio Napo, La Plata).— Lawr., Ann. Lye. N. Y. 1864, 99 (Sombrero).— Pelz., 

 Orn. Braz. iii, 199 (Brazil).— B. B. & R., N. A. B. ii, 1874, 149, pi. 32, t^ 4, 5. 



Icterus agrijienms, Bp.,Obs. Wil.s. 1824, No. 87 ; Syu. 1828, 53.— NoiT., Man. i, 1832, 185.— 

 AUD., Oru. Biog. i, 1831, 283; v, 1839,486; pi. 54. 



SoUcliOtnjx agripfiinis, Rich., Rep. Brit. Assoc. 1837. 



JPsarocoUiis cmulacutua, Wa&l., Syst. Av. 1827, 32 {Bil. and Cass.). 



Dolichonyx oryzhorus var. albimicha, Ridgw., Mss.— Coues, Check-list, App. //^ . 



Baft.— Eastern North America. North to the Saskatchewan (latitude 40°, Eich.). 

 West to the Rocky Mountains and somewhat beyond. Utah {Allen) ; Nevada ( / 

 way); Wyoming (ifaj/tZeii); Montana (Cooper). South to Bolivia, La Plata, &c. C_ 

 pagoes. Breeds from the Middle States and Kansas northward. Does not winter^ 3 f - 

 anywhere in the United States. West ladies. Central and South America (numerous .j <^ A . 

 quotations). '' ^ ^ 



Lieutenant TTarrcn's Expedition. — 5360, Fort Pierre ; 8951-52, Loup Fork of Platte. /-i 

 Late)- Expeditions.— 617-28-30, Ogden, Utah ("abundant")- •^ ■' "^ 



The entire cliange of plumage which the male of this species under- 

 goes twice a year is none the less interesting because it is so well known 

 a lact in its economy. When the bird reaches the Middle districts, 

 which is usually not until May, the males, as a rule, are already in 

 nearly perfect breeding attire, but in the vast majority of instances still 

 show touches of yellowish on the belly and legs. At this period they 

 are verj' conspicuous, associated in flocks, sometimes great in extent, 

 moving restlessly about the meadows and orchards, overflowing with 

 glad music. Their number seems out of all proportion to that of the 

 females, but this is probably due to the silent and more retiring ways 

 of the latter sex. They really i^ass through, in the vernal migration, 

 quite rapidly, though they do not appear to be at all in a hurry, as we 

 see them by day. They throw themselves in a field, scatter on the 

 ground, feeding, and at the slightest alarm, or iu mere wantonness, 

 suddenly fly en masse to the nearest tree, fence, or bush, and begin to 

 sing, producing an indescribable medley, hushed in an instant only to 

 be resumed. Sometimes they sing as merrily, though with less con- 

 certed action, while they are rambling in the grass. Their day-time 

 leisure for song and food is easily explained : for they migrate, at this 

 season, almost entirely by night. Every night in early May, as we walk 

 the streets, we can hear the mellow metallic clinking coming down 

 through the darkness, from birds passing high over head, and sounding 

 clearer in the stillness. By the middle of May they have all passed ; 



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