FAMILY Fringillldi 



monotonous trill, but as a matter of fact it is nothing of 

 the kind ! Chippy's tones may be monotonous, but they 

 are not trilled. The bird simply reiterates with consid- 

 erable rapidity one tone, thus: 



J=160 cres. Three times8a.&. off 'the keyboard!. 



A trill is distinctly a rapid alternation of two separate 

 tones, and there is not a suspicion of that in the Chippy's 

 song. On the contrary, it has not even the suppressed 

 introductory grace-note of the noisy Flicker's monoto- 

 nous performance! Yet Dr. Coues says of the bird 

 " He has at times a song quite different from the sharp, 

 monotonous trill so characteristic of springtime." Now, 

 we need not question the varied conditions of so limited 

 a performance; they exist, but they are worth neither 

 attention nor record. They simply consist of a series of 

 rhythmic interruptions, like this: 



Thrtt times 



The " trill," however, is a musical term employed with- 

 out a full knowledge of its significance. Mr. Cheney, 

 after quoting Dr. Coues's description of the song, re- 

 marks, "Without doubt he has'' a different song, "but 

 the monotonous ' trill ' being a succession of rapid tones 

 upon the same degree, can hardly be called a trill." 

 That is a musician's verdict! Other authors make the 

 same error in describing the song. Mr. J. B. Grant 

 says " His note is a trill of considerable duration, sug- 

 gestive of the sound of the cicada." 



The Chipping Sparrow lias a most friendly nature and 

 not infrequently he hops within the bounds of the door- 

 sill for any proffered bread crumbs or other food. His 

 nest is quite often lodged in the vines of the piu/x.a 

 trellis, and it is a common thing for him to awake in 



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