File:American ornithology for the home and school (1902) (14747046321).jpg

Identifier: americanornithol21902reed (find matches)
Title: American ornithology for the home and school
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Reed, Chester A. (Chester Albert), 1876-1912
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: Worcester, Mass. : C.K. Reed
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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nest is made of dried grasses and is artfully concealed in a tuft ofgrass or weeds. The latter part of May or during June they lay fromfour to six grayish eggs that are heavily blotched, clouded and mottledwith various shades of brown. ^1 HABITS. In nearly all respects the Bobolinks are our most peculiar birds.They come to their northern breeding grounds during the first half ofMay and for the remainder of the spring and summer their sweetmusic and comical ways endear them to the hearts of all their northernfriends. The male bird is decked out in a fantastically arranged suitof black and white, that seems to put to naught all theories as to theprotective coloration of birds. His black under parts and the contrast-ing white on the upper make him a mark that can not be overlooked asyou scan a meadow. As far as the eye can see you can detect himperched upon the top of a weed or blade of grass. His partner on the other hand, is dressed in the regulation garb of a 242 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY.
Text Appearing After Image:
BOBOLINK. AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY 243 ground bird, mottled brown and yellowish upper parts and lighterbeneath so that she is but little noticed as she slips in and out amongthe grass looking after her affairs. From the time of their arrival un-til after the young have left the nest, the male Bobolinks are bubblingover with song, a rollicking jingle that has been immortalized by manyliterary geniuses both in verse and prose. These pen pictures of Bob-olink music do but scant justice however to what the bird is capable of.Possibly an expert player on the mandolin might with a great deal ofpractice be able to give a fair imitation of the song, but I have neverheard it.

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