WAKBI.KR SONC.S. KJ 



mating it is often a challenge or cry of defiance, and may 

 sometimes become the battle cry when the fight is on. With 

 some, possibly many, species it is used during courting as a 

 love song, when it may be somewhat modified, thus approach- 

 ing the passion song. It is always an announcement of some 

 sort to some other birds, and may, therefore, be properly 

 termed a call song. Not usually being reserved exclusively 

 for the mate nor for himself, it might also be designated the 

 altruistic song, as distinct from the egoistic or 



PASSION SONG. 



What, then, is the Passion Song? It is an outburst of 

 melody of such richness and fullness, such thrilling ecstasy, 

 that the singer is lifted into the air on quivering wings to 

 pour out his melody without a pause until the inspiration has 

 passed. The call song is the product of a deliberate purpo.se, 

 but the passion song wants no purpose. It bursts forth un- 

 bidden. We have supposed that the passion song is purely a 

 love song, intended only for the mate, since it is usually ut- 

 tered only in seclusion and at times when vulgar ears are not 

 supposed to be listening. There is little doubt that during 

 the mating and nesting season it is a love song, but I have re- 

 peatedly heard the song of Oven-bird long after the young had 

 left the nest and were no longer dependent upon their parents. 

 I venture the suggestion that this song is induced by an over- 

 flow of energy which finds expression in this way. It is a 

 .sort of hymn of praise for the mere privilege of life. It is so 

 far different in execution from the call song that there is no 

 ground of comparison. The performance is a continuous 

 thrilling warble with no plan nor suggestion of pause, accom- 

 panied by fluttering flight or swift dartings about an open 

 .space in the woods. The favorite time is just as twilight be- 

 gins to cast its hush over nature; but it may be heard in the 

 morning twilight, or .sometimes during a dark, damp day 

 when there are twilight conditions. Once I heard it from an 

 Oven-bird on the approach of a thunder storm about nine in 

 the morning. While the song is so unlike the call song, it 

 may be a medley of the notes of that song, or begin with a 

 few notes of the call song and close with a complete rendering 

 of it. 



