70 HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS. 



singing his incomparably sweet songs, stopping only 

 occasionally to caress one of the little birds as he passed 

 from one to the other. It was a question whether this 

 extra mnsic was indulged in for the especial pleasure of 

 his little family, or whether it was the every-day song 

 of this particular finch. ^ 



In describing the birds of the Catskill, Eugene Bick- 

 nell says of the purple finches: " They appeared to be 

 in full voice, but their songs were so different from that 

 of the same species near JN'^ew York City that I doubted 

 their identity, till a specimen was secured. ISTot only 

 the notes, but the manner of delivering them was 

 entirely strange. In the lower Hudson Valley the song 

 of this finch is rich and voluble, with the notes of defi- 

 nite character and number. In the Catskills all the 

 notes were weak and inexpressive, and the song brief 

 and of uncertain character." 



The songs of some bobolinks are remarkable perform- 

 ances, both in tone and execution. The music of others 

 is like that from instruments cracked and out of tune. 

 Wilson Flagg says : " The songs of the song sparrow 

 {Melospiza fasciata), in the wilds of ^N'orthern New 

 England, are more plaintive and sylvan, though not so 

 loud and theme-like, as in thickly settled locahties." 



The power of imitation is possessed by a much larger 

 number of birds than that of ventriloquism. Some 

 individuals will master the entire song of another 

 species. Bobohnks, w^hen caged, have been known to 

 appropriate the song of canaries and sing them for 

 months, in preference to their own. Other birds will 



