BIRDS WITH UNMUSICAL VOICES. 



121 



In any sound of whatever 

 kind which is not a harsh noise, 

 there is a keynote (tone). Niag- 

 ara Falls is no exception to the 

 rule ; to my ear it distinctly 

 hums a profound organ note. 

 But according to atmospheric conditions and one's 

 relative position to the falls, the organ tone is higher 

 or lower. 



We can not pass a barn yard without hearing the 

 unmusical cackle of the hen ; yet a little careful 

 attention will perhaps bring with it the knowledge 

 that the racket is not simply a noise after all. This 

 is what I make of it : 



Cut cut-cut-cut. cut-cut-cut -out -cut- cut-rut-cut ca dar. Cut etc. 



Not even the twitting chatter of the barn swallow 

 is really unmusical, and the night song of a million 

 crickets is a lullaby of two soothing notes,* im- 

 mensely musical in effect. 



It is the case, then, that there are unmusical birds, 

 if we consider the matter strictly in the light of com- 



* See Chapter VI, Meado-y Singers. 



