RUFOUS-SIDED TOWHEE 575 



sweetness at times, and delivered while in company with the females, and doubtless 

 during the active courtship period * * *. 



T. S. Roberts (1932), after considering other authors' attempts to 

 describe the song of this species, states his preference thus: "* * * 

 chipper-chee-e-e-e-e, the first two syllables sharp and clear, the 

 latter part a trill of a slightly lower pitch." A. W. Butler (1897) 

 adds the interesting note that the "female does not sound the final 

 k in chewink, which is distinctly given by the male." To Roberts 

 the song sounds something like " 'look-out, ter-r-r.* The first 

 syllable has a rising inflection; the second is slurred." E. H, Eaton 

 (1914) finds a distinction between the call notes "chewink" and 

 "tow-hee" and comments that the former is often followed directly 

 by the latter. C. R. Mason wrote to Mr. Bent in 1945 of his observa- 

 tion of what he assumed to be a single individual that frequented his 

 place three successive summers. "Instead of the 'Drink Your Tea' 

 song its notes are 'Drink, Drink, Drink, Tsit, Tsit.' The last two 

 notes are inaudible fifty feet from the bird, but the 'Drink' notes are 

 quite loud and ringing." From an unpublished manuscript provided 

 by A. A. Saunders, the following information has been extracted. 

 "The song * * * is short and, in its commonest form, fairly simple. 

 This form consists of two notes, usually on different pitches, followed 

 by a short trill, or a series of rapid notes all on the same pitch. A 

 still simpler form consists of one note and a trill. There are many 

 other variations. The songs vary in length from one to two and three- 

 fifths seconds, and in pitch from A5 to D7. The pitch interval varies 

 from none at all to seven and a half tones, the average being three 

 and two-fifths tones. 



"The quality of Towhee songs is exceedingly variable. Some are 

 quite musical, others decidedly rattle-like or buzzy. Some are partly 

 musical and partly rattle. The musical part may be the first notes 

 or the trill. One bird that lived on the grounds of the Allegany 

 school for three summers was outstanding in its extremely fine first 

 notes, musical and bell-like. 



"In 36 years of records in southern Connecticut, the first spring 

 song of the Towhee averages April 19, the earliest being Apr. 2, 1938, 

 and the latest May 2, 1924. The occasional birds that winter here 

 may start singing in March. I have three dates of March singing, 

 the earliest being Mar. 16, 1944, but I have not used them in working 

 out the average first date for spring arrivals. 



"Song ceases in August. In Allegany Park the last song heard 

 averages August 5, the latest Aug. 13, 1937. In Connecticut the 

 last song averages August 12, the latest Aug. 19, 1949. Revival of 

 song in fall is rare; I have three October dates; Oct. 12, 1935, Oct. 8, 

 1939, and Oct. 3, 1946." 



