144 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



1. Bobolink (494. DoUehonyx oryzlvorus). — Male in spring. 

 A common meadow blackbird witb white rumj) and shoulders ; 



golden brown on the back of 

 the head, and acute-tipped tail 

 feathers. Female (also male in 

 the autumn) much like an 

 olive-colored streaky sparrow, 

 with buffy belly, but with 

 pointed tips to its tail feath- 

 ■~'' ers ; wings 'and tail blackish- 

 / brown, the back streaked black 

 and huffy-olive ; crown black- 

 J ish with a lighter central stripe, 

 and all under parts buffy, 

 slightly streaked on the sides. 

 This is a wonderful singer 

 throughout May and June, but 

 during the rest of the year the 

 notes are confined to merely a 

 call of chink. The remarkable 



change of jslumage in the male is accomplished by two com- 



jjlete molts each year, (lleedbird ; Eicebird.) 



Length, 7', ; wing, 3-| 

 (3|-4) ; tail, 2J ; tarsus, 

 1 ; culmen, | or less. 

 North America west to 

 Utah; breeding from 

 southern New Jersey 

 north to Ontario, and 

 wintcriui,' south of the 

 United States. 



2. Cowbird (495. 

 Mdlothrus Mer). — A 

 common, small, 

 brown-headed black- 

 bird, with feathers having a metallic gloss. The female is 

 brownish-gray throughout, but lighter below and much smaller 



Boljoliuk 



Boliolrnk 



