FAMILY Mnlotlltldx. 



_ _ _ 



LLT 



Then, a very unusual form seems to me to be one where 

 the general order of the song is reversed, and the buzz- 

 ing note is higher than the others, thus: 



rrrrrr. f 



I can not promise that the intervals as they are recorded 

 here are absolutely correct; it must be admitted that 

 they are mostly guesswork. But I am strongly of the 

 opinion that the greatest interval the bird sings is not 

 over a minor third; about from D to F beyond highest C. 

 Unfortunately the lower note, D, is so completely domi- 

 nated by a buzzing overtone that the bird's voice seems 

 to many people to be pitched very low; but that burred 

 effect can not be substituted for a legitimate tone; the 

 tone is present, and it is at least approximately located 

 at D, a note that I can easily whistle, and, of course, 

 recognize although it is beyond the limit of the piano 

 keyboard. 



I have no other types of the Golden-wing's song, 

 though it is very evident others exist. Exactly what 

 form of song Mr. Bradford Torrey heard from his Blue 

 Golden- wing I am unable to imagine, but it is extremely 

 doubtful whether any of the forms here recorded would 

 correspond with his description. He says: " The best of 

 the three songs of the Blue Golden-wing I have never 

 heard except on one occasion, but then it was repeated 

 for half an hour under my very eyes. It bore no re- 

 semblance to the common dsee, dsee, dsee, of the species, 

 and would appear to be seldom used; for not only have 

 I never heard it since, but none of the writers seem ever 

 to have heard it at all. However I still keep a careful 

 description of it, which I took down on the spot, and 

 which I expect some future Golden-wing to verify." * 



* Vide Birds in tin- Hush, page 42, 

 JOS 



