PASSERES—ICTERID. 129 
Family Icteripz#. Blackbirds, Orioles, Meadowlarks, etc. 
Most members of this family are among the best known 
of our birds, because they either live about dwellings or 
in our parks, or because they are-conspicuous in either color 
or voice. Their food habits are discussed in detail under 
each species. 
177. (494.) DoticHonyx oryzivorus (Linn.). 114. 
Bobolink. 
Synonyms: Icterus agripennis, Fringula oryzivorus. 
Reedbird, Ricebird, White-winged Blackbird, Skunk Black- 
bird, Bob Lincoln, Butterbird, Ortolan, Meadow-wink, May- 
bird. : 
Nuttall, Manual, I, 1832, 185. = 
In his full wedding dress the Bobolink is a’ well-known 
bird, but, in-his traveling suit of drab and yellow he is to 
most persons a common sparrow. I was somewhat sur- 
prised to learn that while the Bobolink is one of our most 
familiar meadow inhabitants in northern Ohio, it is not 
found at all during the summer in the southern part, only 
passing through as a migrant twice a year. I found it 
breding sparingly at both the Licking and Lewiston res- 
ervoirs. It is reported as common all summer as far south 
as Delaware, but apparently at the Licking reservoir it is 
near its southern breeding limit. 
Being a meadow haunting bird, its appearance in the 
state must have followed the disappearance of the forests, 
except in the more open north-western counties. Dr. Whea- 
ton places its first appearance in Geauga county in 1857, 
Bobolink reaches Lorain county during the last week of 
April. The males change their garb during July and early 
August, after which the species may be found in flocks of 
varying size, making ready for their journey to the Florida 
rice fields. They are gone by the middle of September. In 
the southern part of the state they remain but about a week 
after their first appearance in spring, and return again dur- 
ing the second week in September, to remain but a few 
days. 
