V<d "l5S XI1 ] Saunders, Recording Bird Songs. 181 



The song of the Song Sparrow is even more variable. Not only 

 does each individual have two or more totally different songs, but 

 I have yet to find two individuals whose songs are at all alike. It 

 seems probable that the number of variations of the Song Sparrow's 

 song is greater than the number of individual Song Sparrows. 



Since the variations in the song of a single species are so great, 

 a question arises as to what are the factors in which these variations 

 resemble each other. The songs of both the Meadowlark and the 

 Song Sparrow, except in unusual instances, are easily recognized 

 in the field. What characters then are specific? Quality un- 

 doubtedly is one. But quality is not the only one, for songs of 

 different species may often have the same quality and yet be easily 

 distinguished. To determine the others it becomes necessary to 

 record a large number of songs of the same species. By comparison 

 of these the points of similarity may be determined, and the amount 

 of variation to which the song is subject may be shown. 



I have not yet recorded enough songs of any one species to make 

 a complete study of the song of that species, or to make any state- 

 ments concerning it that are general in application. As an illustra- 

 tion of how this may be done, however, I have figured out some 

 results from twenty-seven records of the Song Sparrow's song that 

 are interesting though not conclusive. The longest duration of 

 any of these songs is 3.2 seconds, the shortest 1.8 seconds. The 

 average duration is 2.79 seconds. The highest note in any record 

 is D"" and the lowest D", giving a range for the species of two 

 octaves. The greatest range of any one song is twelve half-tones 

 or exactly one octave. The least range is four half-tones. The 

 average range is 8.7 half-tones. All but one of the songs contain 

 one or more trilled notes, and this one contains a series of rapidly 

 repeated notes on the same pitch, differing from a trill only in the 

 fact that the single notes are distinct and slow enough to be counted. 

 This arrangement of notes is also a common character and occurs 

 in fourteen of the songs. Most of the songs begin in a more or 

 less characteristic manner and two such types of beginning are 

 recognizable. The first of these consists of three notes on the same 

 pitch varying from two to three tenths of a second in length. 

 Twelve of the songs, including the one in the illustration show this 

 type of beginning. The second consists of one or two long notes, 



