g82 BIRDS 



breezy meadows and flowering prairies. About ]May 1st, 

 flocks of the males arrive in the central United States 

 from New York west across the Mississippi Valley. The 

 females appear about a week later, when the game of hide 

 and seek begins. 



Bobolinks are abundant in certain localities from the 

 central United States northward into southern Canada. In 

 many a low pasture or weedy marsh, many swaying weed 

 stalks contain a male bobolink. Suddenly a female, which 

 always wears the same plumage used by both during the fall 

 and winter months, arises from the ground, where she has 

 been deciding upon a suitable place in which to conceal her 

 nest. Immediately from two to six males, singing simulta- 

 neously, pursue her in a zigzag course low over the waving 

 vegetation. She drops to the ground, but her pursuers con- 

 tinue in the air, flying in different directions before return- 

 ing to their respective perches. Frequently while waiting 

 for the object of their affection to present herself, their 

 ecstasy and passion seems uncontrollable, and they launch 

 into the air with outstretched wings, and soar for perhaps 

 thirty seconds in little circles, uttering their bubbling, laugh- 

 ing song; then with upraised wings they gradually drop like 

 a parachute to terra firma. 



A bobolink is a true sport while nesting lasts. In July 

 his ardor has cooled, for, before the month expires, molting 

 has set in. He again assumes the dull plumage of the 

 female, and his only note is a metallic pink-pink. 



After molting, the birds gather in flocks and resort to 

 rivers and marshes for the wild rice. Here they are slaugh- 

 tered in great numbers as the popular game bird, the reed 



