FAMILY Fringillidz. 
character of the music of individuals belonging to differ- 
ent generations, and the results of my observations when 
recorded upon paper have proved surprisingly similar. 
It must be remembered that birds frequently come back 
to their old nesting places; so when I say that I have 
noted with interest the musical efforts of a particular in- 
dividual and his descendants for four, yes, five succes- 
sive seasons, the records of the findings will not seem so 
much like results of one’s imagination. The following 
three songs belong respectively to a grandfather, son, 
and grandson; the family resemblance of the music is, 
to say the least, remarkable: 
2. Sip, swee, swee, chir, chin wis wis wis sir sirsiri’ 
Cy ON eee 
7. 2A eee vet AY AWAANS 1 
my ~~ +i tl | @ @ Ore i@agarrri |i 
<7 Zao tt EE DD PO 
Sir, chewe,chewe cheer, cheer, swe,swe,chir,chir.sir,sin see, see, fish, h fish, fish 
AW AAW ra = 
Wa TA Mae 1a Ea a 1 Dp 
nu a re ee BW Be Ss eS oS 
1 ae ay 2 
1 1.0 eS Al Ba a a A 
LS) ES ES ee eel a 2S A ED A B98 OH a __.._._ _ 
aa seman Fish fish fishyfish! 
The third bird sang in 1902 and added one more fish to the songl! 
ys 
But still more remarkable was the gradual musical de- 
velopment of each song through each season to its com- 
plete form; there would not be enough space in this 
book to show that, and its practical value would be in- 
deed questionable. 
Recollecting that there is no tangible melody to this 
Bunting’s song such as that which characterizes the Song 
Sparrow’s extraordinary essay, it will be readily under- 
stood why the tonic and key are not easily determined. 
Besides, it becomes still more difficult to record a bird’s 
song when, the register is half-way off the keyboard of 
the piano! The Indigo Bunting sings too high for one 
to be sure of his key without considerable study. Mr. 
Cheney gives us a characteristic record. and draws the 
138 
