WILSON CIIAPTEll, A. A- 13 



neighborhood of the bird uttering it. 



It is desirable to know if the notes of the sexes 

 are the same or not, whether the cries they utter are 

 the same vowel or syllable, with only a difference 

 as to time and inflection of voice, or a different 

 vowel or syllable. 



We are also endeavoring to learn if there is any 

 similarity betw^een the calls of different birds un- 

 der the same circumstances, and how much one 

 species understands the calls of another species. The 

 note of a Jay or Crow, for example, will put many 

 other birds to flight, which take no notice of the or- 

 dinary calls of those birds, showing a knowledge of 

 the meaning of the alarm note. 



It has long been krown that if one imitates the 

 cry of a bird in pain, it will bring many members of 

 the feathery tribe within eyeshot, and if, as we stat- 

 ed in another part of this report, the call of the 

 Chickadee be imitated it will have various effects, 

 according to the season of the year, as there explained. 



Tliere are so many points to notice and so much 

 to observe, that for ihe sake of similarity and unity 

 of effort in studying bird-songs, we have prepared 

 and to a certain extent already adopted with good 

 results a set of com i>ari sons and suggestions to be 

 followed as far as pof sible by our observers. This 

 list of comparisons and suggestions will be forwarded 

 most willingly to all who are willing to help by tak- 

 ing observations. Cf couise. notes on subjects not 

 included in these lihts are very desirable, but if our 

 members will work on thei-;e suggestions we liope to 



