232 nurilSlI HIRDS. [vol. ix. 



the sound itself but its effect on the listener. Therefore 

 in the attempt to convey an impression of any music 

 (including bird music) we must interpret what we hear 

 rather than reproduce it, regarding its movement rather 

 than its pattern. Those ^Titers who have most truth- 

 fully described the song of birds — John Burroughs. 

 Richard Jeffries and W. H. Hudson, for instance — have 

 been successful just in so far as they have approached 

 their subject as a work of art rather than as a museum 

 specimen. 



As to the song of the Lapland Bunting, I cannot agree 

 A\'ith Hagerup, who says that '" the song ... is but 

 short, and of an extremely melancholy nature." * Nor 

 with Von Homeyer, who describes it as loud and excited. 

 Naumann {NcUurgescJiichte der Voegel MitteleiLrojxis) says 

 it is " an agreeable unusual song which seems made out 

 of the lark's and the linnet's. "f The Yenesei Bmitings 

 might concede the Lark motiv, but I never heard them 

 recall the Linnet. Wheelwright {Spring and Summer 

 in Lapland) gives this song high praise. " Wliile in the 

 air the song is as rich and clear as that of any of our 

 songsters, not so shrill as that of the Lark, but far sweeter 

 and more varied, for in this song the clear flute-like 

 note of the (Jom-Bunting is blended A\'ith tb.e varying 

 strain of the Skylark, and I thought tliat 1 had never 

 listened to sweeter melody." This description, sym- 

 pathetic though it is, gives the cheery Lapland Bunting 

 almost more than his due. To my mind, the charm of the 

 song lies not in what is sung, which is mediocre enough, 

 but in the peculiar fresh and joyous Avay in which it is 

 delivered. In ])ure music the Lapp Bunting cannot 

 compare with the Red-throated Pipit, nor even Mith a 

 good Snow-Bunting. The strain is like a waterfall of 

 notes, and as the noise of pouring M-ater consists of many^ 

 sounds jumbled and crowded together into a torrent, 



* Birds of (}re< nUmd. 



t Quoted, as aro Xhv two preceding observers, in tlie Jiritixh Bird 

 Book. 



