112 



OUR SOUTHERN BIRDS 



sient in the Middle South during April and 

 May, since it is directly in the line with the great 

 migratory routes, and so it comes that his alle- 

 gretto voluntaries are often borne to our ears 

 across some rich spring meadow — 



Crying, "Phew; 

 shew, Bobolincoln, 

 see, see, Wadolin- 

 coln, Down among 

 the thistle tops, hid- 

 ing in the butter- 

 cups ! — Bobolincoln, 

 Wadolincoln, Win- 

 ter seeble, follow, 

 follow me!" 



The rule of color 

 among birds is that 

 the upper parts 

 shall be dark and the breast and underparts 

 lighter in tone. But the male Bobolink gives the 

 impression of having put on his clothes upside 

 down; for, as we of the last generation used to 

 declaim from the dear old McGuffy readers : 



"Kobert of Lincoln is gayly drest, 



Wearing a bright black wedding coat; 

 White are his shoulders and white his crest. 

 Hear him call in his merry note, 

 " Bobolink, bobolink, 

 Spink, spank, spink, 



BOBOLINK 

 Length 7*4 inches 



