Conspicuously Black and White 



looking awkwardness ; but as he rises into the trees his lovely 

 rose-colored breast and under-wing feathers are seen, and before 

 he has had time to repeat his delicious, rich-voiced warble you 

 are already in love with him. Vibrating his wings after the 

 manner of the mocking-bird, he pours forth a marvellously sweet, 

 clear, mellow song (with something of the quality of the oriole's, 

 robin's, and thrush's notes), making the day on which you first 

 hear it memorable. This is one of the few birds that sing at 

 night. A soft, sweet, rolling warble, heard when the moon is at 

 its full on a midsummer night, is more than likely to come from 

 the rose-breasted grosbeak. 



It is not that his quiet little sparrow-like wife has advanced 

 notions of feminine independence that he takes his turn at sitting 

 upon the nest, but that he is one of the most unselfish and devoted 

 of mates. With their combined efforts they construct only a 

 coarse, unlovely cradle in a thorn-bush or low tree near an old, 

 overgrown pasture lot. The father may be the poorest of archi- 

 tects, but as he patiently sits brooding over the green, speckled 

 eggs, his beautiful rosy breast just showing above the grassy 

 rim, he is a sufficient adornment for any bird's home. 



The Bobolink 



(Dolichonyx ory^^ivorusj Blackbird family 



Called also: REEDBIRD; MAYBIRD; MEADOW-BIRD; AMERI- 

 CAN ORTOLAN ; BUTTER-BIRD ; SKUNK BLACKBIRD 



Length — 7 inches. A trifle larger than the English sparrow. 

 Male — In spring plumage: black, with light-yellow patch on 



upper neck, also on edges of wings and tail feathers. Rump 



and upper wings splashed with white. Middle of back 



streaked with pale buff. Tail feathers have pointed tips. In 



autumn plumage, resembles female. 

 Female — Dull yellow-brown, with light and dark dashes on back, 



wings, and tail. Two decided dark stripes on top of head. 

 Range — ^North America, from eastern coast to western prairies. 



Migrates in early autumn to Southern States, and in winter to 



South America and West Indies. 

 Migrations — Early May. From August to October. Common 



summer resident. 



61 



