Family ICTERIDiE. Blackbirds, Orioles, etc. 



Genus DOLICHONYX Swaixson. 



DOLICHONYX ORYZIVORUS (Linn.). 



201. Bobolink. (494) 



Male : — In spring, black ; cerri.x. buff' ; scapulars, rump and upper tail 

 coverts, ashy-white ; interscapulars streaked with black, buff and ashy ; outer 

 quills, edged with yellowish ; bill, blackish-horn ; feet, l^rown. Male in fall, 

 Jfinalt and youvij, entirely different in color ; yellowish-brown above, brownish- 

 yellow below ; crown and back conspicuousl}', nape, rump and sides less 

 broadlv streaked with black ; crown, with a median and lateral light stripe : 

 wings and tail, blackish, pale edged ; bill, brown. The male changing shows 

 confused characters of both sexes. Length, 6^-7-2 ; wing, 3i-4 ; tail, 2J-3 : 

 tarsus, about 1 ; middle toe and claw, about IJ. 



Hab. — Eastern North America to the Great Plains, north to Southern 

 Canada, south in winter to the West Indies and South America. Breeds from 

 the Middle States northward, and winters south of the United jStates. 



Nest, a cup-shaped hollow in the ground in a hay-field ; lined with withered 

 grass. 



Eggs, four or five, brownish-white, heavily Ijlotched and clouded with 

 chocolate-brown making the general appearance very dark. 



