d92 Townsend, Courtship in Birds. [July 



birds are extremely pleasing — but any sound which is customarily 

 connected with courtship. Courtship song, as thus understood, 

 may be either vocal or instrumental. The rattling of the stiff 

 tail feathers of the Peacock and the rolling drum made by the 

 wings of the Ruffed Grouse fall into the instrumental category. 

 The rapid stamping of the feet by the Heath Hen produces a 

 ratta-tat-tat like that made on a kettle drum. The tooting sound, 

 similar to that made by blowing across the top of a bottle, pro- 

 duced by the neck-sacks of this same bird, should, I suppose, be 

 classed as instrumental song. The sounds made by the clapping 

 together behind the back of the wings of the Domestic Pigeon, 

 of the clapping on the sides of the Pheasant are, of course, in the 

 instrumental class. 



The Woodcock in his wonderful courtship flight, as he ascends 

 straight up in the dim light of early morning or late evening, 

 gives forth loud sounds that cease whenever the bird sets his 

 wings and momentarily soars — instrumental sounds made ap- 

 parently by his wings. During the last part of the ascent and 

 during the descent he gives forth sweeter vocal notes or whistles. 

 Before he is again on the wing he emits at intervals loud vocal 

 peents, preceded by faint gulping sounds accompanied by a puffing 

 out of the body and slight raising of the wings. 



The Wilson Snipe flies about in his ecstatic courtship when the 

 light is so poor that it is difficult to observe his flight, and sounds 

 arise — quavering or bleating in character — which are believed to 

 be instrumental in their nature, due to the passage of the air 

 through his stiff primary feathers. The loud booming or whirring 

 sound made by the Nighthawk in his spectacular plunges has 

 already been mentioned, an instrumental music of curious char- 

 acter. 



The drumming of the Flicker on a hollow stub or on a roof or 

 chimney-pot is clearly to be classed as instrumental music. I 

 have heard this bird interrupt his spring song to drum and later 

 continue with his vocal music. 



The song of courtship produced by the vocal organs of the 

 bird varies from the rasping, vibrating note of the Golden-eye or 

 the aa-ou of the Eider, emitted at the height of the dance and 

 display, the harsh scream of the Kingbird or the tis-ik of the 



