166 MINOR SONGSTERS. 



call of the kinglet. The music of the ba}'- 

 breasted warbler is similar to the black-poll's, 

 but hardly so weak and formless. It seems 

 reasonable to believe not only that these two 

 species are descended from a common ancestry, 

 but that the divergence is of a comparatively 

 recent date : even now the young of the year 

 can be distinguished only with great difficulty, 

 although the birds in full feather are clearly 

 enough marked. 



Warblers' songs are often made up of two 

 distinct portions : one given deliberately, the 

 other hurriedly and with a concluding flourish. 

 Indeed, the same may be said of bird-songs gen- 

 erally, — those of the song sparrow, the bay- 

 winged bunting, and the wood thrush being 

 familiar examples. Yet there are many sing- 

 ers who attempt no climax of this sort, but 

 make their music to consist of two, or three, or 

 more parts, all alike. The Maryland yellow- 

 throat, for instance, cries out over and over, 

 " What a pity, what a pity, what a pity ! " So, 

 at least, he seems to say ; though, I confess, it 

 is more than likely I mistake the words, since 

 the fellow never appears to be feeling badly, 

 but, on the contrary, delivers his message with 

 an air of cordial satisfaction. The song of the 

 pine-creeping warbler is after still another fash- 

 ion, — one simple short trill. It is musical and 



