Of eastern PEl»fNSYLVANIA. 353 



the rejected suitors are driven away by the suc- 

 cessful aspirant, and efforts are made by the loving 

 pair to build themselves a home. It is on such 

 occasions that their song appears to the best ad- 

 vantage. It is in the eccentric pauses which 

 happen in the midst of their song that we detect 

 the word "bob-o-link" so distinctly enunciated as 

 not to be misconstrued. 



When the contests arc over, the birds select a 

 suitable locality for a nest. A meadow is chosen 

 ■ as its site. The nest is built upon the grpund, 

 and so artfully concealed by enveloping grasses, 

 as to be very difficult to discover. It is com- 

 posed of flexible grasses most carefully wrought 

 into a shallow and compact nest. 



When the female is brooding over her charge, 

 the male is hovering over the nest ottering his 

 incessant love-song, or else is swaying to and fro 

 upon some slender weed, eloquent with melody. 

 As domestic cares and responsibilities increase, 

 his song is heard less frequently, until finally it 

 ceases altogether. 



The eggs are five in number, and generally 

 marked with rufous-brown and lavender blotches 

 upon a white background, which sometimes pre- 

 sents a tinge of drab or olive. They measure .90 

 of an inch in length and .70 in breadth. 



This species is single-brooded. It breeds from 

 the 42d to the 54th parallel of latitude in North 

 America, being particularly abundant in certain 



localities, 



w 



