THE SONG AND NOTES OF BIRDS. 97 



night later. Another early songster is the Yellow 

 Bunting, .which in suitable districts commences in 

 February; a third is the Song Thrush, which 

 during mild winters in our southern counties may 

 be heard irregularly through the winter, becoming 

 more persistent in January and February. Now 

 the music of these three species is invariably com- 

 menced at the pairing season, and is the result 

 of sexual rivalry. All three birds pair weeks before 

 they commence nest-building ; until sexual instincts 

 prompt them into voice all are strictly silent. 

 They continue in song throughout the spring and 

 summer, the Chaffinch and Song Thrush ceasing 

 during the first half of July, and the Yellow 

 Bunting becoming mute during the first fortnight 

 of August, when the breeding season is practically 

 over, and the autumn moult commences. Occa- 

 sionally a Chaffinch or a Yellow Bunting may be 

 heard in September and October; but I am in- 

 clined to believe these individuals are from one 

 cause or another still breeding. I should also 

 point out the significant fact that these birds rear 

 several broods in the course of the season, which 

 in itself is a strong stimulus to the prolongation 

 of song. 



Our second series of examples shall be taken 



H 



