520 Nichols, Limicoline Voices. [Oct. 



analogies (determining what note of one species has the same 

 significance with what note of another which may or may not be its 

 homolog). One of the first things apparent is that the notes of 

 species with similar habits are analogous, those of allied species 

 more or less homologous, but often with very little analogy. 



In view of the philosophic interest of the subject it is surprising 

 how few records the literature of ornithology contains of careful 

 observations made to interpret the language of birds and to de- 

 termine its extent and precision. In Chapman's Handbook of 

 Birds of Eastern North America (1912 ed., p. 60, etc.) we find 

 summarized in a few paragraphs the principal facts about this 

 language obvious to the field naturalist. Ordinarily no attempt 

 is made to go beyond these, indeed to do so involves difficulties 

 calling rather for experimentation than for casual observation. 

 Most of the writer's observations on Shore Birds have been made 

 under what are almost experimental conditions. More or less 

 perfectly concealed in a blind, he has observed the birds, many of 

 them in active migration, passing decoys (called "stool" in his 

 locality). There are under such circumstances a limited number 

 of simple acts open for them to perform, each rather easily in- 

 terpreted, and each repeated over and over in the course of time 

 by birds of the same and related species. It is conclusions from 

 correlation of the birds' cries with their actions under these 

 conditions that he hopes will make a slight step in advance into 

 a difficult subject and be of value to later observers. 



The Black-breast, Golden, Kildeer, Ringneck Plover, have each 

 a characteristic diagnostic flight-note, respectively "pe-oo-ee," 

 "que-e-e-a," "ke-he," "tyoo-eep." Though different all these 

 notes have the same rolling character; in fact, are so much alike 

 that they certainly have a common origin, as the birds have, — 

 that is, are homologous. Also, they are used by each in the same 

 way, have the same significance, — that is, are analogous. 



Migratory Shore Birds in general have each a diagnostic flight- 

 note analogous with the flight-notes of these Plovers. The flight- 

 note of the Willet ("kiyuk") is sufficiently plover-like to be con- 

 sidered homologous, were the Willet a Plover. I hesitate to use 

 the term "homology" in this case, however, and will therefore 

 call it a note of the same group, and the Plover and Willet notes 



