THE ANATOM Y OF BIRD-SONG. 123 



which controvert the theory of syringeal 

 song-generation. This theory makes the 

 flute upside down, and gives it a jarring 

 tongue, like that of a jew's-harp. A vibra- 

 tory, sound-producing membrane in the 

 mocking-bird's syrinx would destroy utterly 

 the purity of its rich flute-notes, just as a 

 harp-tongue in a flute would send a harsh jar 

 through every strain blown from it. Above 

 all, a ' ' vocal cord " less than the twentieth of 

 an inch in length, and but little more than 

 half as wide as it is long, is not the origin of the 

 vigorous, far-sent whistling, twittering, and 

 chirruping that we hear in all the leafy groves 

 of spring. Syrinx is a good name, suggestive 

 of the avian pipe, but it should be given to 

 the larynx, of which the glottis is the mouth- 

 piece, not to the obscure little pump- valve 

 box at the hinder end of the trachea. 



If I have succeeded in showing that the 

 mocking-bird is a flute-player, instead of be- 

 ing a French-harp blower, I shall not regret 

 my work. Indeed, I do not regret it in any 

 event, for the scattered spaces of time that I 

 have filled with it are among the charming 

 episodes of a varied out-door experience, 

 brimming now with all manner of melodious 

 memories. 



