182 Saunders, Recording Bird Songs. [ April 



followed by four to six rapidly repeated ones, all on the same pitch. 

 Seven of the songs have this type of beginning. The remaining 

 eight songs are irregular and show no definite types. None of the 

 songs show enough similarity in termination to draw any general 

 conclusions. 



In this manner, from a large number of records of a single species, 

 one should be able to draw. fairly definite conclusions concerning 

 the song even when it is extremely variable. Many other interest- 

 ing facts concerning bird songs may be deduced by studying and 

 recording them in the field. Thus two Field Sparrows, singing 

 alternately and within hearing of each other, produced songs that 

 were exactly alike in every respect, while two Song Sparrows 

 singing under similar conditions had songs that were dissimilar 

 except for the last three notes which were exactly alike. 



Field work in studying and recording bird songs is more or less 

 difficult according to the qualities of the person attempting the 

 work. A good musical ear is absolutely essential. Records made 

 by a person not possessed of such an ear for music would be of no 

 more value than descriptions of plumages made by one who is 

 color blind. A knowledge of music is essential also, but it need 

 not be great. In fact I believe that very little musical knowledge 

 is necessary to use or understand the graphic method of recording 

 songs. 



In the absence of a stop watch it is possible to use an ordinary 

 watch provided it is a good one, though its use is more difficult. 

 An ordinary, good watch ticks five times to the second, so that 

 fifths of a second may be measured by listening to the ticks. In 

 making records of songs in the field it is of value to record the date, 

 locality and time of day with the record. These points may serve 

 to show important facts concerning the variation of songs due to 

 these factors. 



It is also possible to add the factor of quality to the record by 

 writing a statement of this at the top of the record, as suggested 

 by Mr. Robert T. Moore in his paper on musical notation at the 

 A. O. U. meeting of 1913. I have not done this on my records as I 

 feel that the statements would be too inexact to be of much value. 

 All of the songs I have used in illustration are to my mind of a 

 whistled quality, and I am of the opinion that the differences in 



