128 



Bird- Lore 



vations on the whisper song of the Cat- 

 bird. We can assure him that this was not 

 a trick of his particuhir bird, but is more or 

 less a characteristic of them in general, 

 and his supposition is also correct, that 

 other species indulge in this 'reverie song' 

 during the autumn migrations. Our 

 winter birds are prone to voice their joy, 

 or perhaps sorrow, in this song. We have 

 often heard the Cardinal, Towhee, Song 

 and Tree Sparrows, in the early and mid- 

 winter, especially during long-continued 

 cold. 



The 'Hallelujah chorus' that we hear in 

 the spring comes from the top twigs of 

 the thickets and woods; but this minor 

 strain — and it seems to us as one of sor- 

 row — comes from the cover of the dead 

 weeds and brambles, and is given so softly 

 at times that it can be heard but a few 

 feet away. 



There must be some climatic or physio- 

 logical cause for this song, at which we can 

 only make a guess. — Chas. R. Wallace, 

 Delaware, Ohio. 



uncommon, but only the sharpest ears 

 are tuned to catch the soft strain. Cer- 

 tainly, it is not confined to the above 

 species. — Scott G. Harry, Wooslcr, Ohio. 



I should like to add to Mr. Lloyd's 

 notes on the 'Whisper Song of the Cat- 

 bird,' that I have heard this song. 



My most noteworthy experience of the 

 kind, however, was with a Brown Thrasher 

 soon after the spring arrival. He did not 

 perch on the highest point of the tallest 

 tree, as he does for his wonderful sunset 

 song, but, hiding in a shrubby growth, he 

 poured forth in exquisite sotto voice his 

 whole repertoire of phrases. 



It was one of the nature expisodes that 

 make us forget everything but the ideal 

 side. 



Some Thrushes also sing in an under- 

 tone at times. The Robin does it, and in 

 spring migration I have heard both the 

 Gray-cheeked and Olive-backed Thrushes 

 sing short songs in this manner. — Lucy 

 V. Baxter Coffin, Chicago, Illinois. 



It is with a great deal of interest that I 

 note what Mr. J. Wm. Lloyd says of the 

 'whisper song' of the Catbird, in the 

 December (1914) Bird-Lore (p. 446). 



I have observed the same performance 

 upon one occasion, Oct, 7, 1914, when an 

 individual was engaged in singing a typical 

 song, but so softly as to be almost inaudi- 

 ble at a distance exceeding twenty-five 

 feet. The characteristic call-note was also 

 given in the same soft manner. The song 

 period for the species closed July 27, and, 

 October 7 constitutes the latest date of 

 observation. 



I have observed several other species 

 engaged in singing the whisper song. 

 September 19, 1913, I noted a Brown 

 Thrasher singing a song characteristic 

 in every way except that it was executed 

 so softly as to be audible only at a short 

 distance. At different times I have noted 

 the Yellow-throated, Red-eyed and Warb- 

 ling Vireos also the Song Sparrow and 

 Cardinal indulge in the 'whisper song.' 



It is possible this interesting and appar- 

 ently overlooked pliase of bird music is not 



In answer to J. William Lloyd's inquiry 

 about the 'whisper songs' of birds, I have 

 the following to offer: In my back yard 

 stands an apple tree whose wide-spreading 

 branches overhang the back doorsteps, 

 and in which a pair of Catbirds have made 

 their home for the past four years. Last 

 fall I had been watching . the Catbirds 

 closely in order to know the exact day of 

 their departure for the South. One after- 

 noon, while seated on the doorstep watch- 

 ing the pair as they sat perfectly still on 

 a limb only a few feet above me, I became 

 suddenly aware that the male was sing- 

 ing. The song was so soft as to be almost 

 inaudible, even at a distance of eight or 

 ten feet. I have never heard sweeter 

 music from a bird. So soft, so sweet, and 

 so full of pathos, it seemed to be a 

 meditation of the joys of the past sum- 

 mer, mingled with the sorrow he felt at 

 leaving this home that had been filled 

 with so much love and happiness. 



I heard this whisper song almost every 

 day following, until one morning near the 

 middle of October, on going out into the 



