IA.8 Hicknell on the Singing bj Birds. [April 



Singing continues through the summer. In some years, 

 chiefly in seasons of drought, it falters under the heats of late 

 July ; yet, even at these times, the steadfast little chanters never 

 seem to be wholly discouraged. Through a great part of August 

 they continue in voice ; but later singing slackens, and towards 

 the end of the month complete silence is averted only by occa- 

 sional weak songs. 



In August, a change comes over the songs of many of the 

 birds. Their songs lapse into a low, desultory warbling, even 

 more indeterminate than their first attempts in late winter, as if 

 they had lost their early interest or lacked the power to sustain 

 the full pitch of their notes. But it is probable that in the 

 summer time a state of complete silence is never quite reached, 

 though it is much more nearly approached in some years 

 than in others. During these times of uncertain singing the 

 low warble is the more usual song, and sometimes wholly 

 replaces the louder one ; but the latter may occur at any season. 

 Sometimes, chieflv in the autumn, the undertoned song is remark- 

 ably prolonged, the notes being thrown together with much 

 modulation, but without definite arrangement. In this manner 

 singing may be continued without pause for more than a minute. 



From the latter part of September to the middle of October 

 the full song is resumed and, associated with the inferior song, 

 is continued into November. On fine bright October and early 

 November days, the song is sometimes as frequent and given 

 with as much ardor as in the spring. After the first week of 

 November singing j s no t longer to be depended upon, but fine 

 weather may call it forth up to the end of the month. 



Among the various notes of the Song Sparrow are two ver\ 

 different chirps, ons b^ing particularly characteristic of the 

 species, and a peculiar low chippering. The latter seems to be 

 uttered only in the mating season. In advanced seasons I have 

 heard it at the end of February. 



Earlier in this paper I alluded to the wide individual variation 

 in the song of this Sparrow. While scarcely any two of the 

 birds sing just alike, occasionally songs are heard which it is 

 hard to believe are from this species until optical evidence forces 

 conviction, I recall a particular instance of this kind which 

 came under my observation at Sing Sing, N.Y.. while in the 

 company of Dr. A. K. Fisher. We were attracted bv a song 



