252 LAND-BIRDS. 



last most dwelt tipon). Though subject to such variation as 

 sometimes to suggest the songs of two different species, their 

 music always expresses the same sweetness, plaintiveness, and 

 almost wildness. It is uttered, not only from the ground and 

 froni the tree-tops, but very often when the birds are on the 

 wing. 



n. DOLICHONYX. 



A. OKYZivoRUS. Bobolink. JReed-hird. JRice-hird. 

 " STcwnlc Blackhird." A common summer resident through- 

 out the northeastern United States.* 



a. $ , about 7 J inches long. From arrival in New Eng- 

 land until August, black; hind-neck, buff, interscapulars 

 streaked with the same ; shoulders, rump, and upper tail-cov- 

 erts, nearly white. At other times like $ ; yellowish brown 

 above, darkly or blackly streaked (as are also the sides) ; 

 wings and tail, dark, with pale edgings ; median and supercili- 

 ary stripes, and under parts, brownish yellow. 



b. The nest is built upon the ground, in fields of long 

 grass, or in meadows, and is more or less concealed. It is 

 usually finished, near Boston, in the last week of May. The 

 eggs are four or five,f averaging .90 X .70 of an inch, and are 

 white, tinged with brown, gray, or rarely green, and generally 

 blotched, splashed, or clouded, with a dark, dull brown. The 

 colors are, however, variable, occasionally resembling those of 

 the Eose-breasted Grosbeak's egg. 



c. The Bobolinks are common summer residents of New 

 England, but chiefly in the southern parts. From other writers 

 it may be gathered that they pass the winter far to the south- 

 ward (being, according to Gosse, migrants through Jamaica), 

 enter the Gulf States in large flocks during March or April, 

 and thence proceed northward, plundering on their way the 

 farmers, and in Virginia doing " great damage to the early 

 wheat and barley, while in its milky state." They reach 



* Although less namerons than for- mountains, bnt rare or absent at most 



merly, still a very common summer places on Oape Cod. — W. B. 



resident of the more open portions of t Sets of six eggs are common, and 



Xew England, even at rather high seven are occasionally laid by one bird, 



elevations among the more northern — W. B. 



