PERCUEKS. 



97 



male is brown and white. It is seen almost everywhere, 

 in low bushes, in fields, or by the wayside, and is easily 

 found by its sweet r/'f- 

 zuink, uttered every 

 few moments. Of- 

 ten near the close 

 of day in spring, it 

 mounts the top of a 

 small tree, and sings 

 with charming sweet- Fig- 13S 



ness. It makes its nest upon the ground, laying from 

 four to six eggs of a light color with dark spots. 



Blackbirds, Larks, etc. 



The Bobolink, Cowbird, Blackbirds, Larks, and Ori- 

 oles belong to one family. The Bobolink is somewhat 



larger than a Bluebird, 

 of a black and cream 

 color, the female yellow- 

 ish bro«'n. Its jingling 

 song, uttered from a low 

 tree, or bush, or tall 

 weed, or upon the wing, 

 is familiar to all who live 

 in the country. Late in 

 the summer Bobolinks 

 fly southward, and are 



seen in immense flocks 

 ¥\s. no — Bobolink, or Reedbird. . . ^ , , j 1 , 



^ ^^ in gram fields and along 



the margins of creeks and rivers, where the tops of the 

 reeds are bent with ripe seeds. Thousands are shot 

 by the hunters and sold in the markets, where they 

 are called Reedbirds. 



NAT. HIST. AN. — 7 



