BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 
97 
FAM. ICTERIDAL 
STARLINGS. 
DOLICHONYX ORYZIVORUS. {Linn.) 
Bobolink. 
Adult Male. — General plumage, black; patch on the base of 
the skull, buff ; scapulars, rump, and upper tail-coverts, white ; pri- 
maries edged with yellowish ; tail feathers very acute. 
Fall Plumage , Male and Female. — Above, yellowish brown, 
streaked with black or dark brown ; under parts, yellowish. 
Length 6.50, wing 3.60, tail 2.55, tarsus .95. 
I have never met with the Bobolink in the Bahamas, but include 
it on Dr. Bryant’s authority, who says : “ On the evening of the 
6th of May, towards sunset, I saw a number of flocks of birds flying 
to the westward, and counted nine in all. This was on Friday. 
The next day the country was filled with Rice Birds, as they are 
called there, and boys and men in large numbers turned out to 
shoot them. I examined a quantity of them, all of which were 
males in full plumage. Numerous flocks still continued to arrive 
during this day and Sunday. On Monday, among those shot, were 
many females. On Tuesday only a few were to be seen, and on 
Wednesday they had entirely disappeared.” 
Fig. Aud. Bds. N. A., Vol. IV. pi. 21 1. 
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