File:The birds of America - from drawings made in the United States and their territories (1840) (14568529630).jpg

Identifier: birdsofamericafr04audu (find matches)
Title: The birds of America : from drawings made in the United States and their territories
Year: 1840 (1840s)
Authors: Audubon, John James, 1785-1851 Bowen, John T., ca. 1801-1856?, lithographer
Subjects: Birds Birds
Publisher: New York : Published by J.J. Audubon Philadelphia : J.B. Chevalier
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Institution Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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narrow and acuminate. Toes large;claws very long, little arched, slender, tapering to a fine point. THE RICE-BIRD.—BOB-O-LINK. ■^Dolichonyx oryzivora, Linn.PLATE CCXI Male and Female. Very few of these birds pass through Louisiana in spring, and still fewer,on their return, in autumn; for which reason I am inclined to think that theydo not spend the winter months so much in the southern parts of Americaas in some of the West India Islands. Indeed, I am the more inclined tobelieve this to be the case, as they seldom penetrate far into the interior,during their stay with us, but prefer the districts bordering upon the Atlantic,through which they pass and repass in incredible numbers. In Louisiana, small detached flocks of males or of females appear about themiddle of March and beginning of April, alighting in the meadows andgrain-fields, where they pick up the grubs and insects found about the rootsof the blades. I have heard it asserted, though I cannot give it as a fact, X PL 211.
Text Appearing After Image:
/ Male.2.F«mjiZc~ £%L0%^ a**y£ju &ra»sn. fiy-m,.,Kcturr iy J.J^iuduim -FR 5.FLS. Lithf&inttJ&:C*l*lvJ. FJ?r,.,r, Vkii„.l THE RICE-BIRD.-BOB-0-LINK. XI that the appearance of the Rice-bird in spring forebodes a bad harvest. Theidea probably originates from the circumstance that these birds do not passthrough Louisiana regularly every year, there being sometimes three or foursprings in succession in which they are not observed. The plumage of many of the males at this early season still resembles thatof the females, but it changes in the course of their stay, which is seldommore than a fortnight. I have ascertained this fact by dissecting many atthis period, when, notwithstanding the dull colour of their plumage, I foundthe sexual organs greatly developed, which is not the case in autumn, evenin the old males. I had another clew to the discovery of this fact. Nosooner did a flock of females make its appearance, than these dull-lookinggentlemen immediately paid them suc

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