134 Twelve Months With 



The bobolinks are also real pioneers, and while 

 now less numerous along the Atiantic coast, they 

 have traveled westward in greater numbers, even 

 so far as Nevada and Utah. 



The bobolink's nest is perhaps more securely 

 hidden than the nests of any of our common birds. 

 It is always placed near the roots of deep grass 

 of luxuriant midsummer growth, usually well away 

 from the margin of the field, with nothing to mark 

 or trace it by but the nodding clover blossoms 

 or timothy tops, which are legion, and which all 

 look alike to one in quest of the nest. It seems 

 that in many cases those birds whose struggle for 

 existence is most sharp are the most prolific, or 

 possess in the highest degree the art of concealing 

 their nests. Such birds as woodpeckers, orioles 

 and birds of prey, whose life struggle is less keen 

 by reason of their habits, seldom rear more than 

 one brood, while the sparrows, robins, phoebes and 

 thrushes frequently have two or three families of 

 young birds during the summer. Although the 

 bobolinks seldom if ever rear more than one 

 family of young in a season, and although large 

 numbers are shot by hunters, they persist and con- 

 tinue to be numerous, because of their unusual 

 skill in concealing their nests. 



I remember an experience several summers ago 

 which illustrates the difficulties which confront 

 one in endeavoring to locate a bobolink's nest. 

 I was spending the month of June on a farm in 

 Southern Michigan. Every morning my walk 



