SONG OF THE ALDER-BIRD 121 



staring at me with the imperturbable calm- 

 ness characteristic of the family. Later he 

 took to the tall trees, and through July I 

 learned to know him well, for he was one of 

 our most common visitors. 



I enjoyed him especially in that old grove, 

 where, my seat being particularly well con- 

 cealed, I was much nearer to him. I soon 

 found out that he, no more than other birds, 

 is confined to the conventional utterance by 

 which he is known. He was most voluble 

 and interesting, being unaware that he was 

 under observation and at the mercy of a 

 reporter. His common, official song, which 

 voiced itself to me as " red-dy," he jerked 

 out with apparent difficulty, as his relative, 

 the least flycatcher, does his well-known 

 " chebec," throwing his head back as if he 

 would snap it off. 



He often sang this common song an hour 

 at a time. But again he added another two- 

 syllable clause much lower in tone, and of a 

 musical quality entirely lacking to the loud, 

 hoarse " red-dy." This second part sounded 

 like "per-ry." It was so different in tone 

 and manner that it seemed like the note of 



