FAMI Icterid2. 
I heard in the Arnold Arboretum introduced these harsh 
notes, in a very amusing fashion, in the following song: 
He begana light dancing air, then hurriedly gave these anda 
accel. §threetoneless,yfinal 
Cesc ngneee highE 
If one should ask the question, ‘‘ How does the Oriole 
sing differently from the Robin?” the answer is given at 
once by comparing the series of dots below which repre- 
sent the rhythm in both birds’ songs: here are three 
songs of the Oriole: 
N°1 e.}° e@@ ee .©@ @ @ @oe e3°e 
No? 4 eee @ © 000 © 
N°3 ee ee eo ee ecoeoevegee ee @ @ 
and here is the Robin’s: 
a — Aan — ~— -— 
eee eee eee e e eee °@ @ 
Cheerily,  cheerily,  cheerily, — cheerup, — cheerily, _cheerup, 
It would be practically tmpossible for the Robin to sing 
that succession of notes at the end of No. 3. Moreover 
nearly every note the Oriole sings is given staccato, 1. e., 
in a percussive manner.* All the Robin’s notes are tied 
together in groups of three, or rarely two. Robin sings 
a detached or interrupted warble, and continues that 
sort of thing indefinitely; Oriole does nothing of the 
kind, he begins a shorter song and continues it without 
interruption (except by syncopation) to its close; the dif- 
ferent spacing of my dots indicates the respective values 
*In imitating the staccato character of the Oriole’s note it is 
bhecessary to put the tongue with the tip at the roof of the mouth 
directly behind the upper front teeth, then it can be used as a valve 
to permit the sudden escape of a whistled note which must be cut 
short by the tongue being returned at once to its position. 
66 
