324 BULLETIN 196, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



in the manner of a Robin, then flying to a low branch, and, after 

 facing about, repeating the same maneuvers — evidently trying to 

 entice us away from the spot." 



The flight of the solitaire is not swift, probably not over 20 miles 

 an hour in direct flight; but the flight is usually not direct or much 

 protracted, and is more or less erratic; Grinnell and Storer (1924) say 

 that it reminds one of Say's phoebe, "in that the wings are widely 

 spread and flapped rather slowly, and the flight course is irregularly 

 circuitous." 



It is ordinarily a gentle bird and not inclined to quarrel with its 

 neighbors, but it is very solicitous in the defense of its home and will 

 often drive away other birds from the vicinity of its nest or young. 



Voice. — Much has appeared in the literature in praise of the charm- 

 ing song of Townsend's solitaire, and I have some interesting contrib- 

 uted notes on it. Aretas A. Saunders (MS.) praises it as "one of the 

 most glorious and beautiful of bird songs" and says that it "is a rather 

 prolonged, warblelike series of rapid notes, each note on a different 

 pitch than the last. The notes are clear, sweet, and loud, and follow 

 each other almost as rapidly as those of the winter wren." 



Samuel F. Rathbun heard one singing in the Olympic Mountains, 

 on July 19, 1920, and says in his notes: "While we were eating lunch 

 the song of this bird suddenly rang out not far away. It seemed to 

 come from near the top of one of the trees in a nearby grove of coni- 

 fers. The song was most beautiful, full and clear, with sparkling, 

 ringing notes, some of which remind one of the song of the purple 

 finch at its best. But the solitaire's song has much more volume and 

 is more brilliant. It was given a number of times, and well fitted its 

 surroundings, for there was a swing to it that went with the expanse 

 of the mountain heights." 



Dr. Louis B. Bishop (1900) praises it highly in the following words, 

 as he heard it in Alaska: "On the hot noon of June 26, while seated 

 on the summit of a hill some 1,500 feet above Caribou Crossing, I 

 heard the most beautiful bird song that has ever delighted my ear. 

 It seemed to combine the strength of the robin, the joyousness and 

 soaring quality of the bobolink, and the sweetness and purity of the 

 wood thrush. Starting low and apparently far away, it gained in 

 intensity and volume until it filled the air, and I looked for the singer 

 just above my head. I finally traced the song to a Townsend solitaire 

 that was seated on a dead tree about 150 yards away, pouring forth 

 this volume of melody without leaving its perch." 



Ralph Hoffmann (1927) says that it has "the quality of the Black- 

 headed Grosbeak's song and a tempo between that of the Warbling 

 Vireo and the Purple Finch." The song has been said by others to 

 resemble the warbling of the bluebird, a decided compliment to the 



