74 
THE RICE J3UNTINR. 
In the month of May, these birds fix their abodes in the 
“savannahs” of Ohio and Michigan, and the cool grassy 
“meadows” of New York, Canada, and Ne*v England for the 
purpose, principally, for hatching and rearing their young. 
The song of the male continues, with but little interruption, 
during the period of incubation, and his chant, at all times 
very similar, is both singular and pleasant. “ Often, like the 
skylark, mounted and hovering on the wing, at a small height, 
above the field, as he passes along from one tree top or weed 
to another, he utters such a jingling melody of short variable 
notes, so confused, rapid, and continuous, that it appears 
almost like the blending song of several different birds. 
Many of these tones are very agreeable, but they are delivered 
with such rapidity that the ear can scarcely separate them. 
The general effect, however, like all the simple efforts of 
nature, is good, and when several are chanting forth in the 
same meadow, the concert is very cheerful, though monotonous, 
I and somewhat quaint. Among the few phrases that can be dis¬ 
tinguished, the liquid sound of Bob-d-lee , or Bob-o-link , Bob-o- 
lirike , is very distinct. 
“ To give an idea of the variable extent of song, and even an 
imitation, in some measure,, of the chromatic period and air of 
this familiar and rather favorite resident, the boys of this part 
of New England, [Cambridge,] make him shout among others, 
the following ludicrous dunning phrase, as he rises and hovers 
on the wing near his mate:— ^'Bob-o-link, 'Bob-b-link , ’Tom 
Denny, 'Tom Denny—’Come pay me the two-and-six-pence you've 
owed more than a year and a half ego!—'tshe 'tshe 'tshe, 'tsh 'tsh 
1 tshe ,' modestly diving at the same instant down into the grass, 
as if to avoid altercation. However puerile this odd phrase 
may appear, it is quite amusing to find how near it approaches 
to the time, and expression of the notes, when pronounced in a 
hurried manner.” * 
; This relish for song and merriment, confined wholly to the 
male, diminishes as the period of incubation advances, and 
j when the young brood begin to flutter around their parents, 
A * Nuttall. 
