Notes of Birds. 293 
as their notes, however, are perfectly distinct, 
a little attention to them is sufficient to re- 
move every difficulty. In the same manner, 
the crow may readily be distinguished from 
the rook, the raven from both, and the males 
of most species from the females. 
The arrival of many of the periodical war- 
blers is frequently first announced by their 
songs; and the clamorous night-calls of the 
redwing and fieldfare in the months of Octo- 
ber and November, serve to establish the fact, 
that these birds migrate, and that they per- 
form their journeys in the dark. 
But these are not the only advantages to 
be derived from an acquaintance with the 
notes of birds. As the feathered tribes com- 
municate their sensations and intentions to 
one another through the medium of modulated 
sounds ; the proficient, in what, without any 
impropriety, may be termed their language, 
can comprehend their various wants and 
emotions, and can participate in all their 
little joys and sorrows, hopes and #ars: to 
him, the music of the groves is not a con- 
fusion of pleasing tones merely, but the me- 
lodious interchange of thought and feeling ; 
which, though very limited and imperfect, 
still answers many important purposes, and 
contributes materially to the happiness and 
