Identifier: cu31924000070809 (find matches)
Title: Bird studies for home and school; sixty common birds, their habits and haunts
Year: 1911 (1910s)
Authors: De Groat, Herman C
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: Buffalo, N. Y., Herman C. De Groat
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
he Bobolink. He comesout of South and Central America and the West Indies inspring, full fledged, in his handsome livery with large numbersof his male companions. The males precede the arrival oftheir plain mates by about ten days, and appear to be lookingover the fields for suitable nesting places while they await thecoming of the other sex. The Bobolink is so vain of his appearance and mannersthat he seems to rely upon them as much as upon his song towin the affections of a mate. He poses and waltzes to themusic of his own song before the one that he has selected fora wife, until she is charmed by his graces and attentions. The nest of loose grass is built on the ground,, usually insome meadow. While the female is sitting, the male bird willbe seen near her upon a tree or fence where he pours out a joy-ous song of many different notes, that charms the ear of everylistener. The singer appears to be overcharged with musicwhich he is making a great effort to let out. The song is so 130
Text Appearing After Image:
varied and rapid that it seems like a medley produced byseveral birds singing together. Many attempts have beenmade to put his song into words, but few persons agree on thesounds which they hear. One phrase that* is quite distinct maybe written, boh-o-lee, bob-o-ling, bob-o-link-e. His happysong diminishes gradually and drops out altogether as theseason advances to midsummer. About this time the malechanges his dress and appears in plain brown like his wife andchildren. This suit he wears until the next spring when heagain puts on bright feathers and takes, up his old love songanew. During their stay in the North, these birds live uponinsects and the seeds of useless plants. About the middle ofAugust, great flocks of them move southward together, stoppingto feed on the wild-rice marshes of the rivers of the Atlanticcoast. Here the gay Bobolink of the Nprth becomes the fat,toothsome Reedbird or Ricebird of the South. Great numbersof them are killed for food during th^ few weeks of thei

Note About Images