18 BIEDS AND POETS 



ble, thimble, if I break every heart in the ■meadow, 

 see, see, see ! " 



At the approach of the breeding season the bobo- 

 link undergoes a complete change ; his form changes, 

 his color changes, his flight changes. From mot- 

 tled brown or brindle he becomes black and white, 

 earning, in some localities, the shocking name of 

 "skunk bird;" his small, compact form becomes 

 broad and conspicuous, and his ordinary flight is 

 laid aside for a mincing, affected gait, in which he 

 seems to use only the very tips of his wings. It is 

 very noticeable what a contrast he presents to his 

 mate at this season, not only in color but in man- 

 ners, she being as shy and retiring as he is forward 

 and hilarious. Indeed, she seems disagreeably seri- 

 ous and indisposed to any fun or joUity, skurrying 

 away at his approach, and apparently annoyed at 

 every endearing word and look. It is surprising 

 that all this parade of plumage and tinkling of cym- 

 bals should be gone through with and persisted in 

 to please a creature so coldly indifferent as she really 

 seems to be. If Robert O'Lincoln has been stimu- 

 lated into acquiring this holiday uniform and this 

 musical gift by the approbation of Mrs. Robert, as 

 Darwin, with his sexual selection principle, would 

 have us believe, then there must have been a time 

 when the females of this tribe were not quite so 

 chary of their favors as they are now. Indeed, I 

 never knew a female bird of any kind that did not 

 appear utterly indifferent to the charms of voice and 

 plumage that the male birds are so fond of display- 



