1792. The Boblincoln, Emberiza oryzivora, is mentioned in Jeremy Belknap’s ‘New Hampshire,’ iii. 173.
1796. Also in Morse’s ‘American Geography.’ (N.E.D.)
1809. The luxurious little boblincon revels among the clover blossoms of the meadows.—W. Irving, ‘A History of New-York,’ i. 124 (1812).
1826. [In Missouri] I saw early in the spring a flock of those merry and chattering birds, that we call bob-a-link, or French black-bird.—T. Flint, ‘Recollections,’ p. 243.
1832. The Boblincon is a well known meadow bird, always full of life and chatter, called in the southern States the Rice-bird.—Williamson, ‘History of Maine,’ i. 141 (Hallowell).
1842. I had … listened to the songs of the robin and bob-a-lincon.—‘Lowell Offering,’ ii. 208.
1847. I could see no more, but I heard her voice, which was sweeter than a bob-o’-linck’s.—Charles F. Briggs, ‘Tom Pepper,’ p. 145.
a. 1870.
| Gladness of woods, skies, waters, all in one, | |
| The bobolink has come, and, like the soul | |
| Of the sweet season vocal in a bird, | |
| Gurgles in ecstasy we know not what, | |
| Save, June! Dear June! Now God be praised for June! | |
—J. R. Lowell, ‘Under the Willows.’ |
