FAMILY Fringlllldx. 



characterized by a delicate overtone. To these facts we 

 must add the important one that, for an apparently anx- 

 ious and restless bird always seeming to be in a hurry (at 

 least during the courting period), the tempo of his song is 

 quite moderate. This description is about as unlike the 

 music of the Robin as it could possibly be. Robin's notes 

 are all emphatically staccato, few slide and these are ac- 

 cidental, hurried, and without expression, only occa- 

 sionally are any characterized by what might be termed 

 a crude overtone, and all progress in a lively, bustling 

 way without any regard for moderation. 



Here is a Rose-breasted Grosbeak's song obtained in 

 Campton, N. H., in June, 1903. I do not think it is 

 radically different from others which follow, yet in su- 

 perficial appearance it might suggest the Robin's song 

 while these others do not; if so, the reason may be at- 

 tributed to the tying together of the notes in groups of 

 twos and threes: 



Sostenuto 



dim. 



Observe that the strain is in the minor key, yet it has a 

 dancing rhythm which gives it a character of sprightli- 

 ness. Now compare this with the next record in another 

 and a major key, and the family resemblance of the two 

 songs will at once become apparent, notwithstanding the 

 fact that this second record does not in the remotest de- 

 gree suggest the Robin's song. 



TV font wrysligMy burrtd 



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