2 30 White on Birds of Mackinac Island. Muly 



During the summer of 1S91 some very interesting observations were 

 made as to their song habits. The song of the Olive-backed Thrush 

 begins low and ascends by two regular steps of two notes each, and ends 

 with several sharp notes. The first note of each step is higher than the 

 second, and the second of the next is about the same as the first note of 

 the first step. Occasionally the whole is preceded by a sharp chuck. The 

 notes have the swelling beauty of all Thrush songs, while the metallic 

 ending rings like a little bell. The song always says to me, — gurgle 

 gurgle ting, die die die. As far as my experience goes, this Thrush never 

 sings steadily except in his chosen tree; in fact for two years one has 

 selected for his perch a small evergreen near our cottage, and it was from 

 him that I procured the following data. 



He sings on an average nine and a half times a minute with extreme 

 regularity. During the song periods of morning and evening his con- 

 stancy of purpose is remarkable; except to seize a passing insect, he never 

 breaks the regular recurrence of his song. From a series of records it is 

 found that he begins on an average about 3.15 A. M., and sings steadilj' (of 

 course I mean by that ten times a minute, not constantly) until about 

 9.00 A. m. ; he is nearly silent until noon, after which he sings occasionally 

 tor a minute or so. About 4.30 he begins again, and only ceases to retire 

 for the night about 7.30 p. m. This is a wonderful record, and were it not 

 verified by long experience, I should myself be inclined to consider it 

 exceptional. Allowing but eight times a minute for his songs, we have, 

 for one day, the time consumed in song periods about eight hours and 

 forty-five minutes, and in occasional song, at least twenty minutes, 

 according to which there would be a total of 4,360 songs per day. His 

 song ceased entirely about July 25, although for five days before that but 

 half the time was employed. Certainly it would not be unfair to allow 

 him at the very least six weeks of song, 42 days at 4000 per daj', in all 

 16S, 000 songs in a season. The above facts have been many times verified. 



Turdus aonalaschkae pallasii. — A common summer resident, very enter- 

 taining on account of its delightful song. Departs Sept. 2-6. 



Merula migratoria.- — Common summer resident. Shy and a frequenter 

 of the woods, rarely appearing in town. 



Sialia sialis. — Rare summer resident and abundant migrant. The bulk 

 arrives the middle of August, and departs the middle of September. 



Passer domesticus. — Not one was to be found on the island in 1889 

 when I first arrived, but within a few weeks about twenty came over with 

 the boat from Mackinaw City. These have increased and now they are 

 quite common. 



Besides the above which occur on Mackinac Island proper, I 

 observed the following on the mainland immediately adjacent : — 

 Bonasa umbellus (subspecies?). — Common on both shores of mainland. 

 Bubo virginianus. — One seen on north shore Sept. 3, 1890. 

 Corvus corax principalis. — Common on north shore. 

 Melospiza georgiana. — Very common on north shore. 



