RICE BUNTING. 
219 
months, the colours of the plumage are complete, and, 
except in moulting, they are subject to no periodical 
change. 
55 . ICTERUS AGRIPENNIS , BONAPARTE. 
EMBERIZA ORTZIFORA, WILSON. — RICE BUNTING. 
WILSON, PLATE XII. FIG. I. MALE, IN SPRING ! FIG. II. FEMALE. 
This is the boblink of the eastern and northern states, 
and the rice and reed-bird of Pennsylvania and the 
southern states. Though small in size, he is not so in 
consequence ; his coming is hailed by the sportsman 
with pleasure ; while the careful planter looks upon 
him as a devouring scourge, and worse than a plague 
of locusts. Three good qualities, however, entitle him 
to our notice, particularly as these three are rarely 
found in the same individual, — his plumage is beau- 
tiful, his song highly musical, and his flesh excellent. I 
might also add, that the immense range of his migrations, 
and the havoc he commits, are not the least interesting 
parts of his history. 
The winter residence of this species I suppose to be 
from Mexico to the mouth of the Amazon, from whence, 
in hosts innumerable, he regularly issues every spring ; 
perhaps to both hemispheres, extending his migrations 
northerly, as far as the Illinois, and the shores of the 
St Lawrence. Could the fact be ascertained, which 
has been asserted by some writers, that the emigration 
of these birds was altogether unknown in this part of 
the continent, previous to the introduction of rice 
plantations, it would certainly be interesting. Yet, 
why should these migrations reach at least a thousand 
miles beyond those places where rice is now planted ; 
and this, not in occasional excursions, but regularly to 
breed, and rear their young, where rice never was, 
and, probably, never will be cultivated ? Their so 
recent arrival on this part of the continent, I believe to 
to be altogether imaginary, because, though there were 
