SONGS AND MUSIC 



185 



the morning domesticity — the language of most birds is more 

 or less pedestrian. Especially do the spring migrants exult 

 in the morning hours. It is more necessary for the observer 

 to be up with the blackcap than with the lark, one of the few 

 midday singers. 



The morning too is the best hours for hearing all those 

 bird conversations which are almost as attractive as the 

 songs. As great attention has been paid in recent years to 



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YELLOWHAMMER 



the ' call notes ' and ' alarm notes ' of birds as to their songs, 

 but from all classifications escape a host of half-whispered 

 notes which are not song or call. The hen-bird does not 

 sing, but she undoubtedly speaks and whispers. We have 

 heard the hen stonechat make a singing noise ; and if you 

 are quite close to young and parents at feeding-time some 

 summer morning, you will hear eager sounds and soft endear- 

 ments that suggest a power to talk as well as to sing. Some 

 cock-birds have a sort of croon which is quite different from 

 song. You may, for example, hear from the cock bullfinch a 



