390 LAND BIRDS 



Like the crows, these Ravens feed upon insects and 

 animal food as well as grain, coming close to the abodes 

 of men in their search for it. When their appetite has 

 been appeased, they will hide the remainder of the feast 

 under a stone or a piece of bark, in a hole or in the 

 ground, as do squirrels. By vigorous excavating with 

 their bills a pit is dug, into which the superfluous 

 dainties are tucked, and the whole is again covered with 

 dirt, which looks as if it had never been disturbed. In. 

 some occult way the bird remembers just where each 

 bit is hidden, and never fails to return for it. 



Like the crows, also, they are found in large flocks ; 

 even at breeding season they are somewhat gregarious ; 

 but they are totally unlike the American ravens, in being 

 easily tamed and in preferring the lowland deserts to 

 the cliffs. In California they are found only in the 

 southern and southeastern portions, and are nowhere 

 very abundant. 



494. BOBOLINK. — Dolichonyx oryzivorus. 



Family : The Blackbirds, Orioles, etc. 



Length: 7.00-8.00. 



Adult Male in Spring : General plumage black ; patch on hind-neck 



cream or buff ; wing and fore part of back lightly streaked ; scapulars 



grayish ; rump and upper tail-coverts white. 

 Adult Female : General plumage yellowish brown, under parts paler ; 



upper parts and flanks streaked with blackish ; crown divided by a 



median buffy stripe. 

 Adult Male in Winter ; Similar to adult female, but streaks on upper 



parts blacker. 

 Young : Similar to adult female, but more buffy, .with necklace of faint 



dusky spots ; flanks not streaked. 



