The Birds’ Calendar 
spect, and the name of ‘‘ warbler,’’ as desig- 
nating a conspicuous trait of the family, is a 
misnomer. In many of the species the ‘‘song’’ 
is little more than the rapid reiteration of a 
single note; in others there is some degree of 
modulation and accent (as in the black-throated 
greens), which is very pleasing and vivacious, 
and more fitly called a melody; but none of 
them give a suggestion of such warbling as one 
hears from the purple finch, the goldfinch, the 
rose-breasted grosbeak, or the fox sparrow ; and 
I am qyite unable to understand the extravagant 
language some writers use in commendation of 
the musical qualities of these birds, which in 
other respects are unsurpassed by any other spe- 
cies. The finches are the more musical; war- 
blers more graceful in movement, and more 
charming in form and plumage. 
In temperament finches are more phlegmatic, 
warblers more nervous. There is an eternal 
restlessness about a warbler, in marked contrast 
to the comparatively ‘‘ low-pressure ’’’ organism 
ofa finch. The salient traits of the finch re- 
mind one of the German nationality, while the 
‘¢ warblers’’ are doubtless of avian-French de- 
scent. 
The finches are chiefly granivorous (vege- 
? 
108 
