254 OUR FAVOURITE SONG BIRDS 



others of much higher musical attainment. One of 

 the best songsters in the entire group, perhaps, is 

 a summer visitor to our country. A pecuharity 

 about the song in the present group is the fact that 

 it is uttered very frequently, indeed one may say 

 habitually, during flight. There is little variety in 

 the songs of the Swallows ; in most if not in all 

 species it is a rather low twittering refrain, and 

 continued for very varying periods. Of the extra 

 British species which sing notably may be mentioned 

 the White-rumped Swallow [Tachycineta leucorrhod) 

 of South America, which has a low musical and 

 twittering refrain, often uttered as the bird is at rest 

 on some tree or building. 



