56 FIELD-STUDIES OF RARER BIRDS 



without a glimpse of its author, would in all 

 probability put it to the credit of a Yellowhammer 

 gone to seed, even though he had, from the previous 

 part of the song, inferred that the songster was a 

 ' Cirl." The old hand, however, should scarcely 

 fall into such an indiscretion. 



As for the Lesser Whitethroat's song, no con- 

 fusion should exist over that, even though the 

 listener lacks " ear." In the first place, because 

 the loud, trilling portion of this Warbler's song 

 which is the part generally heard, the first instal- 

 ment merely being a pleasing sort of babbling 

 whisper resembles the syllable twee (rather than 

 t, tut, or tehr), quickly iterated ; in the second place 

 it is more hurried as to its delivery, albeit rather 

 in consequence of the bird's restless behaviour 

 than in point of actual speed ; whilst, thirdly, this 

 species not only repeats its song from six to twelve 

 times per minute and generally nearer the latter 

 mark but is, in addition, a wandering minstrel, 

 flitting from tree to tree as it sings, seldom indeed 

 remaining in quite the same 'spot for more than 

 one stave at a time. On the contrary, the Cirl 

 Bunting, if undisturbed (if disturbed it makes for 

 another tree and recommences there) rarely pro- 

 duces its song more than four or five times to the 

 minute, and sometimes sings for half an hour on end, 

 then perhaps ceasing for a similar or even a longer 

 period. Now and as a further distinction the 

 Lesser Whitethroat is apt to be intermittent that 



