A MUSICAL KEY. 



acter. The explanatory diagram showing the values of 

 notes demonstrates also the value of the slur in connec- 

 tion with the syllables Pea-bod-y which the Peabody 

 Bird sings. In the case of this slur connecting two notes 

 separated by an interval as in the Wood Pewee's song, 

 it indicates that the whistle touches by even gradations 

 all tlie intermediate tones. On the contrary, a simple 

 dot over a note expresses the idea that the tone must be 

 given in a. percussive manner.* My "sawtooth" sign is 

 borrowed in part from the trill sign in music, it is in- 

 tended to express a double tone, which may be demon- 

 strated by whistling the note indicated and humming 

 simultaneously the bass tone at G or G flat, the second 

 one below middle C, or, for that matter, any deep tone 

 convenient to the whistler. The songs of the Scarlet 

 Tanager and Yellow-throated Vireo are strongly char- 

 acterized by this overtone. 



That various birds sing in different keys and in differ- 

 ent measures of time r^oes without saying. The key, 

 however, is a very unimportant matter ; but it is neces- 

 sary to know how it is expressed. 



The natural key is the octave C to C (with its inter- 

 mediate harmonic tones). 



Key of G = 1 sharp, begins a fifth above C, at G, and 

 sharps the F. 



Key of D = 2 sharps, begins a fifth above G, at D, and 

 sharps F and C. 



Key of A = 3 sharps, begins a fifth above D, at A, and 

 sharps C, F, and G. 



Key of E = 4 sharps, begins a fifth above A, at E, and 

 sharps F, G, C, and D. 



Key of B = 5 sharps, begins a fifth abpve E, at B, and 

 sharps C, D ? F, G, and A. 



Key of F = 1 flat, begins a fifth below C, at F, and 

 flats B. 



Key of B flat = 2 flats, begins a fifth below F, at B flat, 

 and flats B and E. 



* In a few instances a dot, aad a dash connecting two notes appear 

 together ; this indicates that the tone is whistled suddenly and la 

 left as suddenly for the next one, so the two are pretty closely con 

 Bected. (See the Oriole's music.) 



