BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY. 



47 



With it all is a constant undertone of Whip-poor-wills, Robins, and Tree Swal- 

 lows. It is still too dark to distinguish writing clearly and the stars are still 

 shining. 



3.15 to 3.30 A. m. A Whip-poor-will starts this period by calling 81 times, 

 but I am too busy to count him again. A Tree Swallow occupies the whole fif- 

 teen minutes in singing lustily from his perch on a bush ; most of the Swallow 

 notes come from overhead, but the birds cannot yet be seen in the air. A 

 Nighthawk spekes overhead and a Phoebe calls for the first time at 3.18. At 

 3.25, while a few stars are still visible, a Yellow Warbler, a Redstart, and a 

 Wilson's Thrush sing. A Bittern pumps and continues the operation at fre- 

 quent intervals. The Pheasants begin to crow, some 20 minutes after the 

 Domestic Cocks. 



3.30 to 3.45 a. m. The full morning chorus is now on. Bitterns, Black- 

 billed Cuckoos, Wood Pewees, Least Flycatchers, Red-winged Blackbirds, 

 Swamp Sparrows, Chewinks, Warblers, Wrens, Wood Thrushes, Robins — all 

 are heard together, and the Whip-poor-wills keep it up till 3.45. A few stars 

 are still shining. 



3.45 to 4 a. m. Tree Swallows can now be seen flying in irregular circles 

 and " singing." Their songs have nearly stopped now. Crows begin to call at 

 3.45. Kingbirds, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and Red-eyed Vireos, not before 

 heard, begin at 4 a. m., at which time the last star disappears and the sun rises 

 gloriously at 4.16 a. m. 



Later in the season when the birds are burdened with family cares, and 

 their spirits are subdued, they do not so much indulge in revelry by night, with 

 the exception of the Long-billed Marsh Wren which is certainly nocturnal in its 

 habits, being more melodious by night than by day. Thus a record for the night 

 of June 24th and 25th, 1904, made in a canoe by the light of a full moon among 

 the Topsfield marshes, is briefly as follows : 



7.30 to 7.45 p. m. The sun has set at 7.24. Least Flycatchers, Red- 

 winged Blackbirds, Swamp Sparrows, Catbirds, Long-billed Marsh Wrens, Wood 

 Thrushes, Veeries, and Robins, are all singing vigorously, while the bull-frogs 

 and mosquitoes do their best to drown the bird-music. 



7.45 to 8 p. m. All of the above are heard, with the exception of the Least 

 Flycatcher, but the songs are growing fainter. A Northern Yellowthroat and 

 a Chewink are also heard. The Whip-poor-wills begin at 7.55 p. m., but are 

 much less energetic than a month ago. Of several counts, 12 to 16 repetitions 

 are common, the intervals are longer, and 93 was the longest song heard. 



8.30 to 10 p. m. With the exception of a few Marsh Wrens, the Whip- 

 poor-wills are the only birds heard, and there are long intervals when all bird- 

 voices are hushed. 



