as the "Rice-birds." Late in October they are leaving the United States, making a short 

 halt in the West Indies, where they are said to feed on the seeds of the Guinea-grass. 

 In Jamaica they receive a new appellation, being there called "Butter-birds." Everywhere 

 in the South and the West Indies the Bobolinks are constantly killed in immense num- 

 bers. It is really a great loss to northern agriculture as well as to the great numbers 

 of friends of Nature, that these birds are allowed by our modern governments to be 

 killed in^uch countless numbers. These beautiful birds have become so scarce of late in 

 many localities that something must be done in order to stop the wholesale slaughter 

 at least in our own country. Even in the Southern States the Bobolink is probably 

 much more beneficial than injurious, for it has been ascertained that they "feed greedily 

 upon the larvas of the destructive cotton-worm, and in so doing render an immense 

 service to the cultivators of Sea Island cotton." 



In allusion to its song the Bobolink has received quite a number of names in its 

 natal haunts, being known as the Boblincon, Bob, Robert, and Robert of Lincoln. 

 Meadowink is of the same character with additional reference to the place where the 

 birds are mostly found during the season of song. "Skunkbird" and "Skunk Blackbird" 

 it has also been called from its resemblance in color to the notorious beast in mention. 

 "Ortolan" it has been named during the autumn on the Atlantic coast. 



The summer home of the Bobolink is found from the Middle States northward to 

 Maine, Ontario, Manitoba, Assiniboia, and Alberta, and from the Atlantic Ocean west 

 to Montana, eastern Nevada, Utah, and Idaho. Together with quite a number of other 

 North American birds two specimens were obtained byHeinrich Gatke on the famous island 

 of Heligoland as stragglers. The birds seem to winter from the West Indies southward, 

 being found in great numbers even as far south as Brazil, Bolivia, and even Paraguay. 

 With bird fanciers in this country and in Europe the Bobolink is a great favorite. 

 Large numbers are exported annually to Europe. They are usually caught at the time of 

 their arrival in nets or trap cages, and they soon become accustomed to cage life. I 

 often caught these birds, and when I lifted the cage from the ground they began to 

 sing. Being very peaceful, they can be kept together with many other small birds. It 

 is difficult to keep the Bobolink in the cage for any length of time, if fed exclusively 

 with seeds. In addition to these they must get Mockingbird-food, mixed with grated 

 carrots, mealworms, grasshoppers, and other insects, and fruit. I have kept several for 

 three and four years, but they did not change their plumage in spring in the way as 

 wild birds do, but they sang just as beautiftiUy. Instead of the deep black color the 

 plumage showed a mixture of black and brown spots, and the creamy cap on the hind 

 neck and the white on the back were replaced by an inconspicuous drab and gray. 

 NAMES: Bobolink, Boblincon, Bob Lincoln, Robert of Lincoln, "Bob," "Robert"; Meadowink, "Skunk- 

 bird" and "Skunk Blackbird"; Reedbird, Ortolan, Ricebird, Butterbird. 

 SCIENTIFIC NAMES: Emberiza oryzivora Linn. (1758). DOLICHONYX ORYZIVORUS Swains. (1827). 



Icterus agripennis Bonap. (1834). 

 DESCRIPTION: "Male, in breeding plumage: Black; nape, buff; scapulars, rump, and upper tail-coverts, 

 ashy-white; middle of back, streaked with black, buff, and ash; outer quills, edged with yellowish; 

 bill, blackish; feet, brown. Male in fall, female and young, entirely different: Yellowish-brown above, 

 brownish-yellow below; upper parts and sides below streaked with black; crown with median and 

 lateral light stripes; wings and tail, dusky, with pale edges of the feathers; bill, brown." (Stearns 

 & Coues, N. E, B, I, p. 293.)— Length, 7.25 inches; wing, 3.75; tail, 2.75 inches. 



