502 BULLETIN 17 9, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



The notes of the martins simply "fit" a spring and summer picture, 

 and while such a description may be exactly what a nonmusical ear 

 would produce in words, i. e., very inadequate, it is certainly some- 

 thing of a tribute to the birds ! 



As has been so often and rightly said, it is difficult, not to say im- 

 possible, to render any idea of a bird's notes by written words. Yet 

 that is about the only way to be specific, and while one's own interpre- 

 tation may differ from another's, it continues to be done, and has to 

 be. In the case of the martin, Audubon (1840) did not attempt a 

 word translation. He simply says that "the note of the martin is 

 not melodious, but is nevertheless very pleasing." Wilson (1831) 

 went farther and produced the following : "Loud musical 'peuo, peuo, 

 peuo'." Forbush (1929) quotes W. M. Tyler as describing a "loud, 

 rich chirrupping." Many authors describe some of the lower notes 

 as "guttural," which is accurate enough. The alarm note is stated 

 by Tyler as "kerp," and he adds a "low-toned 'kroop' song and 

 several throaty notes followed by a spluttering trill." 



Francis H. Allen (MS.) says that the "call notes uttered in flight 

 are a low, mellow but somewhat husky chip,' a ye{r)p^ and a hew?'' 

 The similarity between Tyler's herp and Allen's ye{r)p is at once 

 apparent, and this note can hardly be described in a better way. 



S. S. Dickey (MS.) has this to say : "Purple martins, which scarcely 

 can be called songsters, usually utter loud, penetrative twitterings. 

 They give vent to exclamations of singular delight." This last is a 

 rather happy expression and fits my idea exactly! He adds that 

 "as the nesting season advances they, by spells, break almost into 

 song ; spick-spack-spitter-spee-spack are the syllables. When troubled 

 by English sparrows, bluebirds, and starlings, they swoop in down- 

 ward curves in pursuit of the nuisances, and utter buzzing sounds as 

 spiz-spiz-spizy Dickey concludes with the statement that these "out- 

 cries are not to be confused with those of any other swallow. The 

 utterances have a character of their own, and it is good to hear them 

 if you chance to be one fond of past association and summer excur- 

 sions." One can easily subscribe to the last thought ; it at once brings 

 to mind a dreamy summer afternoon in the side yard, but some of 

 Dickey's "sp" interpretations are rather difficult to follow. Evidently 

 this sound has impressed him considerably, for he uses it consistently. 



During the great gatherings at roosts late in summer the birds 

 are extremely vociferous, and their notes at such times have been 

 likened to "escaping steam" by some authors. This imparts a rather 

 hissing impression that is certainly characteristic of these communal 

 gatherings, but the simile leaves one a little cold. At such times the 

 vocal efforts of the birds are neither musical nor pleasing and often 

 result in becoming a nuisance because of monotony and volume. 



