° ■ 1916 J Fry, Seasonal Decline in Bird Song. 37 



scant. The calls did not begin to lessen till about the twenty-sixth, 

 and from that point on the decline was gradual, and it was still 

 heard occasionally August 10. 



The song of the Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla imsilla) began 

 diminution about the twenty-eighth, though it may have started 

 earlier as in this case the data are not satisfactory. At most it 

 was heard infrequently all summer and only in certain regions, but 

 after the twenty-eighth the songs became more occasional. The 

 diminution was gradual, however, and it was heard a little each day 

 to the end of the period. 



There are also but few data on the Grasshopper Sparrow {Amvio- 

 dramus savannarum, australis). It was heard infrequently and 

 locally to the end of July, the thirty-first probably witnessing the 

 beginning of a gradual decline, though it may have started some- 

 what earlier. It was noted occasionally throughout the remainder 

 of the period. 



The rattle-calls of the Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon alcyon) were 

 heard daily throughout the entire period, though after August 1 

 it was not nearly so noisy. 



The following eight species underwent no decline. The scold- 

 notes of the Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata crisfata) were heard 

 occasionally each day, as were the "caws" of the Crow (Corvus 

 brachyrhynchos brachyrhynchos), and the calls of the Downy Wood- 

 pecker (Dryobates pubescens medianiLs). The English Sparrow 

 {Passer domesticus domesticus) was heard continually about barns, 

 and the twitterings of the Chimney Swift {Chaetura pelagica) were 

 a common sound throughout the period. The Chickadee (Pen- 

 thestes atricapillus atricapiUus) put in an occasional appearance, 

 and the Starling (Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris) was heard every few 

 days. The Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia) was heard giv- 

 ing its "peent" calls, whenever near its haunts. When August 10 

 came all of these were as much in evidence as they had been on 

 July 1. 



All of the birds thus far discussed are included in the graphical 

 chart. The following seven were omitted as their data are scant 

 and unsatisfactory, and further study is necessary before any 

 conclusion can be reached concerning them. 



The Black-throated Green Warbler {Dendroica virens) was re- 



