Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-06-19
RObOIincOn.

An anomaly in the feathcred tribe is the
bobolink. lie has no relatives, not even
distant cousins. While the brown thrash
er and the cat-bird, who press him hard as
competitors i'm vocal accomplishments, are
proud of their connection with the thrushes
and most of the other birds are classed in
families, he has no family, no blood The
starlings would gladly claim him. but he is
no startling. He relies wholly upon his
good looks and fine voice to make way
for him in the world. He dresses like no
other bird, black beneath and creamy white
above, when in his holiday attire. Most of
the songsters sing in attitude, or while
busy at their work as they fit from branch
to branch among the trees, like the vireOs.
To be sure he cum sing while his dainty
feet rest upon the most precarious twig,
but he is an actor, delights in opera and
pours forth his grandest notes while cur
veting through the meadows, first inviting
attention with, "See me, see me, bob-o-
link, as a prelude to his full performance.
The bobolink is as eccentric in his mo le
life as in hsof costume and song. In the
winter he dresses like his humble mate, in
plain brown, and gives no hint of how he
will dress and sing in the spring-time. The
males and females inhabit the rice fields of
the South in large flocks, and are known
there only as rice birds Later they make
their way into the middle states, where
they are called reed birds and sedge birds
They are indolent i'm their habits and are
intent only upon feasting upon rice and
the seeds of reeds and sedge grass, and are
shot in great numbers for the table, which
accounts for their gradual decrease as sum-
ner visitors to the North. In May, when
they arrive in New England, a complete
and wonderful transformation has taken
place in the male bird 1t is here only that
he displays his gay plumage and his rol-
licking manners, and captiyates his hear
ers by his high attainments in song.
\ farmer once told us that for many
years a pair Of these birds had lived in his
meadow, arriving about May 20. and al
ways first appearing upon a certain elm
tree near the house. soon they begin
grass. The male bird seems to allow his
spouse to do the work while he enjoys him
self in the meadow, many times in the day
alighting upon his favorite elm and encour-
aging his more Industrious. if not better
half, with his music.
1t is said that the mocking-bird never at
tempts to initiate the notes of the bobc-
link. He will Try, and generally with sue
cess, the songs of all the other birds which
he hears, but when the bobolink sings he
listens as if transfiXed with amazement or
delight
BY the time the young brood are fully
grown their sire has again lost his bright
colors and his voice. We remember once
to have come upon a large flock of brown
birds upon field of oat stubble in August
and were wondering what they We're, when.
as they arose in the air our query was an
swered by an involuntary, metallic d" olink'
that dropped from one of the number, as
if that were the only note that remained to
him. Sometimes lingering patch of
black or white may be detected not yet
turned to rusSet. Before September they
usually depart for their Southern resorts.
Many poets have sung the praises of this
remarkable bird, but Bryant's wcll-known
tribute is the best
Merily swinging ON brier and weed
Near to the nest of his litt, dame,
over the mountain-side or mead,
Robert of Lincoln is telling his name;
Bob-o,li bob-o link,
Sphinx, spank, sphinx;
Snug aud safe is that nest of ours,
Hidden among the SUNNI flowers
Chez chez chee.
Robert Of Lincoln is gayly drcst
Wearing a bright black weddng-coat,
White are his shoulders and white his crest,
Hear him call in his merry note;
Bobo-link, bob-o'-link
sphinx, spank sphinx;
| Look what nice new coat is mine.
Sure there was never bird so fine.
Chee, chee chez
Robert of Lincoln's Quaker wife,
Pretty and quiet, with plain brown wings
| Passing at home patient life
Broods in the grass while her husband sings;
Bob-o'link, bob.o' link,
Sphinx, spank, sphinx
| Brood, kind creature you need not fear
Thieves and robbers while am here
| Chez. chee, chez