Among the one hundred and ten known species of the family about twenty inhabit 

 our country. They are divided into the following genera: 



1, DoJicbonyx Swainson. Bobolink. One species. 



2, Molothrus Swainson. Cowbirds. One species. 



3, Callothrus Cassin. Red-eyed Cowbird. One species. 



4, Xanthocephalus Bonaparte. Yellow-headed Blackbirds. One species. 



5, Agelaius Vieillot. Red-winged Blackbirds. Three species. 



6, Sturnella Vieillot. Meadow Larks. One species. 



7, Icterus Brisson. Orioles. Seven species. 



8, Scokcopbagus Swainson. Blackbirds. Two species. 



9, Quiscalus Vieillot. Grackles. Three species. 



BOBOLINK. 



Dolichonyx oryzivorus Swainson. 



Plate XXIX. Fig. 1 and 2. 



A flock of merry singing birds were sporting in the grove ; 

 Some were warbling cheerily and some were making love. 

 There were Bobolincon, Wadolincon, Wiuterseeble, Conquedle, 

 A livelier set were never led by tabor, pipe, or fiddle : 

 Crying, **Phew, shew, Wadolincon; see, see Bobolincon 

 Down among the tickle-tops, hiding in the buttercups ; 

 I know the saucy chap; I see his shining cap 

 Bobbing in the clover there, — see, see, see!" 



Up flies Bobolincon, "perching on an apple tree; 



Startled by his rival's song, quickened by his raillery, 



Soon he spies the rogue afloat, curvetting in the air. 



And merrily he turns about and warns him to beware ! 



"T'is you that would a wooing go, down among the rushes O! 



Wait a week, till flowers are cheery; wait a week and ere you marry. 



Be sure of a house wherein to tarry ; 



Wadolink, Whiskodink, Tom Denny, wait, vrait,- wait!" 



Every one's a funny fellow ; every one's a little mellow ; 



Follow, follow, follow, follow o'er the hill and in the hollow. 



Merrily, merrily there they hie ; now they rise and now they fly; 



They cross and turn, and in and out, and down the middle and wheel about, 



With a "Phevir, shew, Wadolincon ; listen to me Bobolincon ! 



Happy's the wooing that's speedily doing, that's speedily doing. 



That's merry and over with the bloom of the clover ; 



Bobolincon, Wadolincon, Winterseeble, follow, follow me!" 



O what a happy life they lead, over the hill and in the mead ! 



How they sing, and how they play! See, they fly away, away ! 



Now they gambol o'er the clearing, — off again, and then appearing; 



Poised aloft on quivering wing; now they soar, and now they sing, 



"We mus t all be merry and moving ; we must all be happy and loving ; 



For when the midsummer is come, and the grain has ripened its ear. 



The haymakers scatter our young, and we mourn for the rest of the year ; 



Then, Bobolincon, Wadolincon, Winterseeble, haste, haste away!" Wn-soN Flagg. 



!*ROM the beginning of April spring is on its northward march. Many^ of our 

 IP^ charming songsters have arrived from their winter home, and numbers of dainty- 

 flowers bloomed and disappeared. Almost every day is a revelation to us and brings us 

 new delight. There were salubrious, sunny, and warm days, and cold and blasty ones 



