A MUSICAL KEY. 
Key of E flat = 8 flats, begins a fifth below B flat, at 
E flat, and flats A, B, and E. 
Key of A flat = 4 flats, begins a fifth below E flat, at 
A flat, and flats A, B, D, and E. 
Key of D flat =5 flats, begins a fifth below A flat, at 
D flat, and flats D, E, G, A, and B. 
I have no records of bird music on the keys six 
sharps, or six flats which are identical with each other. 
The signs of sharps or flats belonging to a given key are 
placed at the beginning of the musical staff. | 
Nearly all birds sing in strictly measured time, many 
sing a perfect bar, or measure, and a considerable num- 
ber, several bars. The Whip-poor-will, for instance, 
sings an endless succession of bars in accurate six-eight 
time, that is, within each bar (which is marked off on 
the staff by simple perpendicular lines) will be found 
3ix eighth notes or their equivalent in notes or pauses, 
thus* ; 
f= 144 Vivace, 
a 4 
The time § is therefore placed alongside of the key sig- 
nature of one flat (which is B jlat) which means the 
bird sang in § time in the key of F. Again, the Black- 
billed Cuckoo will frequently sing in two-four time, and 
we will find two eighth notes and a quarter rest (all of 
which is the equivalent of two fourth notes) in one bar: 
g=108 Andante, 3 Ritard. 3 3 
Cou-c00, Cou-CO0, COU-CU-CO0, COU-C0O, COU-CU-CO0, COU-CU-C00. 
* Not infrequently the first bar of a song contains but one beat, 
represented by a note or notes; in that case the other beats neces- 
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