CHAPTER II 



BIRD MUSIC 



Why birds sing. Of the many interesting sounds 

 in nature, bird songs are the most charming. The 

 song of birds is a sexual characteristic developed in 

 the male during the nesting-season. It is closely re- 

 lated in the first place with mating, and is one means 

 by which the male attracts the attention of the fe- 

 male during courtship; it continues, however, dur- 

 ing most of the nesting-season. Occasionally the 

 female has been known to sing, as with the rose- 

 breasted grosbeak and cardinal. While singing is 

 primarily a sexual instinct with the birds, yet it may 

 probably be carried on for the aesthetic pleasure 

 derived, as some birds seem to show appreciation 

 of the harmony of music. 



Season when birds sing. Spring and early summer 

 is the season of bird song, but there is a great varia- 

 tion as regards the time when different species begin 

 and end their song. The first birds that come in the 

 spring begin to sing at once, so that the song sea- 

 son in the northern United States begins in March. 

 The song of the later arrivals is added to these, till 

 the height of the song season is reached in May. As 

 the family cares begin to occupy the attention of the 



