HIS TWO SONGS. 165 



ing. But I " studied him up," and learned that 

 his finest and most characteristic song is uttered 

 in the spring only. After nesting has begun, 

 he gives merely these musical calls, which, 

 though delightful, do not compare say the 

 books with his ante-nuptial performance. I 

 was too late for that, but I was glad and thank- 

 ful for these. 



Moreover, the wren varied his songs as the 

 days went on. There were from two to five 

 notes in a clause, never more, and commonly 

 but three. This clause he repeated again and 

 again during the whole of one visit; but the 

 next time he came he had a new one, which 

 likewise he kept to while he stayed. Again, 

 when, some days later, he took part in feeding, 

 he frequently changed the song as he left the 

 nest. Struck by the variety he gave to his few 

 notes, after some days I began to take them 

 down in syllables as they expressed themselves 

 to my ear, for they were sharp and distinct. Of 

 course, these syllables resemble his sound about 

 as a dried flower resembles the living blossom, 

 but they serve the same purpose, to reproduce 

 them in memory. In that way I recorded in 

 three days eighteen different arrangements of 

 his notes. Doubtless there were many more ; 

 indeed, he seemed to delight in inventing new 

 combinations, and his taste evidently agreed 



