The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-11

birds bearing the names. so different
that there can be no comparison drawn
other than TO say that the similarity
ends in the fact that both are birds.
The reedbird. as he is called, is a
highly respectable member Of polite So
ciety along about this time Of year, and
as he wakes corpulent upon the nour-
ishing reed seed or wild rice OF the river
he is indeed an honored guest at rich
mcr's tables. Along in the spring of the
year the ''reedie" makes a temporary
appearance i'm these parts i'm a very
swell role. Then he is the bobolink, and.
grsndly gay in his black. white and
golden plumage, he seeks pleasant
grsssfelds in which To conduct his love
aft airs.
Then he is as dainty as can be. glossy
and slender and quite a feathered ma
bob, with a nutelike call of three pret-
ty notes. The female keeps a coat OF
black and yellow and journeys with her
Respondent lord into the wide stretches
of grassy hills that mark the approach
TO the Canadian border There the
young are reared. and there they swag
ger around until September ripens the
wild rice.
From this time on the bobolink loses
all self respect He no longer cares for
pretty fields of grass or for orchards
laden with fruit. Away he hies 10 the
riverside, followed OF course. by wife
and children. and then all hands begin
course of gluttony that would put AN
ancient Roman plutocrat to blush
Gone is the pretty black white and burf
plumage, gone the slender form ana
gone the pretty mellow note. In their
place come a businesslike coat OF buff
and black and coarse link" that
seem 10 have some trouble wudiug
through the fattened neck
Now they collect in great nocks ana
move lazily around the marshes aad
meadows. getting fatter each day and
consequently more in demand for grid
iron seances Their Eluttouy is their
ruin. for as long as the food supply
holds out they hang around. while the
steady crack OF the fowling piece dpci-
mates their ranks and makes il decid
edly interesting for the gunners.
AS the time Of the autumnal equinox
approaches the birds gather i'm inn
mense hocks and the very first blow
Of the cold storm sends them away to
the southwark. where as ricebirds
they again pose as citizens Of impor-
tance and are spitted by the thousands
10 fttingly mark southern cpicurc's
holiday.
The means OF killing the reodbird are
legion. The small boy sneaks up on
the "squatters" as they feed and
slaughters them, and the real sports
man picks them of as they fly over the
marsh at a medium height when alarm
ed by the presence OF men At morning
and evening, too. they fly by regular
courses, and during these periods gun
ners who lie concealed In line of the
flights do fearful execution.
II Is the genuine mud waloper. BUSH
vhacker and pot hunter that really
nows the birds down. This merry gen
tieman tramps around i'm the muddy
ooze and, concealed by the high reeds.
sneaks up on a feeding bunch OF birds
and lets loose with a miniature cannon
al the quiet game. lie is generally a
native Of the ReighborhOod I'm which h.
operates. for he must know the treach-
croifs places Of the marsh well. and the
product or his labor brings all the way
from so cents 10 II dozen
Alcpg the river. where the birds most
~ ccngrcgate. some men who make
business OF rcedbird shooting operate
rom blinds. First they plant millet.