AN INDIAN INTERPRETATION 45 



think, more than three ; and the little ditty 

 consists of, first, a single long, deliberate 

 note, then two short repetitions of one a 

 third higher, followed by three triplets at the 

 same pitch. It is so distinct, indeed, that 

 the Chippewa Indians of northern Minne- 

 sota as a traveler in that country kindly 

 wrote me have put it into words, namely, 

 " Pu'orn chiman, chig-a-big, chig-a-big, chig- 

 a-big," which being translated means, " The 

 Sioux canoes are close to shore, close to 

 shore, close to shore," and the friendly bird 

 is held in much esteem by the grateful Chip- 

 pewas. 



There seems small chance for changes in 

 such a limited register, but I found the song 

 capable of very different arrangements, and 

 on recording those I had heard I was sur- 

 prised to see that I had noted seventeen dis- 

 tinct ones. How many variations were made 

 by one bird I was not able to determine, from 

 the difficulty of keeping one under observa- 

 tion, now that the young were able to go 

 about and nobody was confined to any spe- 

 cial locality. But one I was able to watch 

 certainly sang three songs, and I know no 



