THE SIMPLEST SONGS 53 



winter, follows the same method of repeating the 

 call -note for a song — a method which he soon 

 abandons. In early spring the phrases of the 

 starling are concluded with a harsh, squealing cry, 

 which frequent observation leads me to designate 

 its note of passion. This cry is sometimes ad- 

 dressed as the most vehement call to the female, 

 and is also sometimes uttered when she is not near. 

 It is rarely heard in July, August, or September, 

 I have heard the tawny owl repeat his hoot so 

 frequently as to produce a sound like the bubbling 

 note of the nuthatch. Dr. A. G. Butler, F.L.S., 

 informs me that his zebra finches repeat the call- 

 note four or five times as a song. 



In all the above-mentioned British species, and 

 in some of their allies, which represent many 

 avian races, the males court the females partly by 

 the repetition of notes which we observe to be 

 employed in other circumstances as call-notes ; and 

 in some species these notes are repeated so rapidly 

 that a phrase is constructed. But some species 

 have never advanced beyond the mere repetition 

 of their call-notes. Of such are the mallard, stock- 

 dove, kestrel, blue tit, and others of limited vocal 

 range. Mr. Hudson, in his book on La Plata (p. 

 258), has some suggestive observations on the in- 



