Bob'-o-link, Bob

-LINCOLN, RICE-BUNTING, or RICEBIRD, n. (Zool.) An American bird, genus Dolichonyx, family Icterid a. The specific characters of this bird are, tail-feathers very acute; adult male, in spring dre , black, the hind head yellowish-white; scapulars, rump, and tail-coverts, white, tinged with ash. The Rice bunting migrates over the continent of America from Labrador to Mexico, and over the Great Antilles, appearing in the southern extremity of the United States about the end of March. Their food is insects and worms, and the seeds of the gra y meadows. In the autumn they sometimes attack the crops of oats and barley. The song of the male continues, with little interruption, as long as the female is sitting, and Fig. 379.- BOB-O-LINK. (Dolichonyz orizyvorus.) is singular and pleasant; it consists of a jingling medley of short, variable notes, confused, rapid, and continuous. The relish for song and merriment is confined to the male: but he generally loses his musical and short neck, used for preserving solid substances.