Vol. ar 
1900 
Correspondence. 403 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
Habits of the Goony, and Notes on Variability of Birds’ Songs. 
EDITORS OF ‘THE AUK’: — 
Dear Sirs :—In his interesting paper on the ‘Occurrence of American 
Birds in Hawaii, in the July Auk (Vol. XVII, pp. 201-206) Mr. Hénshaw, 
writing of the Brown Gooney (Gony ?), Déomedea chinensis, records ‘‘ the 
added fact that the Goonies also roost upon the vessel’s yards at night.” 
“Is this a fact ? My observations tend to a different conclusion. In sev- 
eral voyages on the Pacific I have noticed that these Albatrosses, early in 
the morning, invariably came from far astern of the ship, indicating that 
they had been resting on the water during the night. Although a cold- 
sea bird, they not infrequently follow a vessel many miles into the tropics. 
May I advert to another item, on page 305 ? In the notice of ‘Ober- 
holser on Birds from Santa Barbara Islands, California,’ a quotation is 
given praising the striking vocal performances of the Western Meadow- 
lark (Sturnella magna neglecta). An editorial comment expressing 
non-agreement with Mr. Oberholser’s conclusion is added. Mr. Ober- 
holser is not alone in his admiration for the song of this species — or 
subspecies. Mr. Ernest Seton-Thompson, in one of his charming 
descriptions, is enthusiastic over the rapttrous music this bird pours 
forth. In the many years I have known it, I never heard any note finer 
than the somewhat husky whistle, that was not to be compared, so I 
thought, with the clear flute-like carol of the Eastern Meadowlark. The 
question arises — may there not be individuals of surpassing vocal powers? 
While in Nova Scotia the past summer I saw and heard a Robin sing- 
ing in a strain unlike anything I had ever listened to from a Robin before. 
There was, it is true, the unmistakable Robin song, but it was strangely 
wild and glorified. There, too, was the bird, only ot darker head and 
ruddier breast it seemed, as befitted this exceptional singer. Some writer 
—perhaps Mr. Torrey —has told us of local differences in voice in the 
case of the familiar Merula migratoria. May there not be still greater 
differences among individuals of certain forms? Baltimore Orioles may 
be cited as an instance in favor of this view. 
G. S. MgEap. 
San Francisco, Cal., 
August 18, 1900. 
