150 



Howell and Oldys, The Bewick Wren. 



fAuk 

 |_ApriI 



Nov. 24, 1889. Four Mile Run, Virginia. Specimen ( 9 ad.) taken by 



J. D. Figgins. 

 Dec. 22, 1890. Washington, D. C. One seen by Chas. W. Richmond. 



March 26, 1897. 

 April 5, 1892. 

 April 4, 1894. 

 April 5, 1906. 

 April 29, 1905. 

 June 2. 1906. 



Specimen taken by Jas. H. Gaut. 

 Brookland, D. C. One seen by Robt. Ridgway. 



Pet worth, 



A. H. Howell. 

 Howell & Oldys. 



The following account of the singing of the wren is based on 

 material secured on the occasion of our joint visit to the locality 

 on June 2. The notations were made from the songs as they 

 were delivered and were verified from subsequent repetitions of 

 the phrases uttered. 



The first song heard was made up of equal parts of the Grass- 

 hopper Sparrow's buzz and the Chipping Sparrow's rapid repe- 

 tition of one note. Taken as a whole the song was somewhat 

 suggestive of that of a Chewink. After repeating this strain 

 for a w T hile, the bird changed to the following song, delivered 

 in the voice of a Field Sparrow: 



The opening notes were two (sometimes one) introductory 

 squeaks, that suggested the idea of sounds made by the vocal 

 machinery in starting. The next three were clear and resembled 

 the beginning of the song of a Song Sparrow, though clearer than 

 is usual with the Song Sparrow. The closing note was a rapid 

 repetition of a single tone (indicated by the dotted line above), 

 in quality and character hardly distinguishable from the usual 

 closing note of a Chewink. 



After one or tw r o other changes of theme the wren, with delight- 

 ful versatility, swung into a charming little song, which began 

 with a melodious arrangement of clear notes marked by an attrac- 

 tive rhythm, very unusual, if not unique, among birds : 



144. 



feS 



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