166 MINOR SONGSTERS. 



call of the kinglet. The music of the bay- 

 breasted warbler is similar to the black-poll's, 

 but hardly so weak and formless. It seems 

 reasonable to believe not only that these two 

 species are descended from a common ancestry, 

 but that the divergence is of a comparatively 

 recent date : even now the young of the year 

 can be distinguished only with great difficulty, 

 although the birds in full feather are clearly 

 enough marked. 



Warblers 1 songs are often made up of two 

 distinct portions : one given deliberately, the 

 other hurriedly and with a concluding flourish. 

 Indeed, the same may be said of bird-songs gen- 

 erally, those of the song sparrow, the bay- 

 winged bunting, and the wood thrush being 

 familiar examples. Yet there are many sing- 

 ers who attempt no climax of this sort, but 

 make their music to consist of two, or three, or 

 more parts, all alike. The Maryland yellow- 

 throat, for instance, cries out over and over, 

 " What a pity, what a pity, what a pity ! " So, 

 at least, he seems to say ; though, I confess, it 

 is more than likely I mistake the words, since 

 the fellow never appears to be feeling badly, 

 but, on the contrary, delivers his message with 

 an air of cordial satisfaction. The song of the 

 pine-creeping warbler is after still another fash- 

 ion, one simple short trill. It is musical and 



