CRIES FOR FOOD 115 



semblance to that of the blackbird. The sound is 

 not represented in the nightingale, but the single 

 chick of the redstart and the tack of the blackcap 

 may be modifications of the same utterance ; and 

 the latter bird especially, when much alarmed, 

 repeats its note many times in succession. 



The call-note of the migrating redwing is heard, 

 slightly modified, in the blackbird, and greatly 

 abbreviated in the common thrush and American 

 robin. It also seems to have an analogue in the 

 cries of the migrating tree- and meadow-pipits. 



The cries for food of the young blackbird and 

 young nightingale, when both have left the nest, 

 are practically the same, differing only in force. 

 The common short squeak used as a call by black- 

 birds, especially in autumn, is of much the same 

 character as the call-squeaks of the robin and 

 nightingale — cries which can hardly be separated 

 from the calls of the spotted flycatcher and hedge- 

 accentor. The young of the American robin have 

 the same squeak as that of their close ally the 

 blackbird, which has just been mentioned. The 

 robin and blackbird have exactly the same cr>' or 

 wail when the nest has been destroyed, or a mate 

 lost, though the latter bird utters it much the 

 louder. In the blackbird this note is repeated in 



