BOBOLINK. II! 
the ground in a slight depression, usually in a field of meadow 
grass, either in a dry or moist situation, and consists merely of 
a loose bedding of withered grass, so inartificial as scarcely to 
be distinguishable from the rest of the ground around it. The 
eggs are 5 or 6, of a dull white, inclining to olive, scattered all 
over with small spots and touches of lilac brown, with some 
irregular blotches of dark rufous brown, chiefly disposed to- 
wards the larger end. 
The males, arriving a little earlier than the other sex, now 
appear very vigorous, lively, and familiar. Many quarrels 
occur before the mating is settled ; and the females seem at first 
very coy and retiring. Emulation fires the Bobolink at this 
period, and rival songsters pour out their incessant strains of 
enlivening music from every fence and orchard tree. The 
quiet females keep much on the ground; but as soon as they 
appear, they are pursued by the ardent candidates for their 
affection, and if either seems to be favored, the rejected suitor 
is chased off the ground, as soon as he appears, by his more 
fortunate rival. The song of the male continues with little in- 
terruption as long as the female is sitting, and his chant, at all 
times very similar, is both singular and pleasant. Often, like 
the Skylark, mounted, and hovering on the wing, at a small height 
above the field, as he passes along from one tree-top or weed 
to another, he utters such a jingling medley of short, variable 
notes, so confused, rapid, and continuous, that it appears 
almost like the blending song of several different birds. Many 
of these tones are very agreeable ; but they are delivered with 
-such rapidity that the ear can scarcely separate them. The 
general effect, however, like all the simple efforts of Nature, is 
good, and when several are chanting forth in the same meadow, 
the concert is very cheerful, though monotonous, and somewhat 
quaint. Among the few phrases that can be distinguished, the 
liquid sound of 06-6-lee bob-o-link bob-0-linké, is very distinct. 
To give an idea of the variable extent of song, and even an 
imitation, in some measure, of the chromatic period and air of 
this familiar and rather favorite resident, the boys of this part 
of New England make him spout, among others, the following 
