140 RAMBLES ABOUT HOME. 



their variations. There is in them material for months 

 of careful study, and any one who has an opportunity to 

 listen to a pair of newly-mated birds will be struck with 

 amazement at the great variety of sounds, all evident 

 expressions of the varied mental impressions of the mo- 

 ment. These " notes," as we may call them, are usually 

 low, and many are scarcely audible, unless we happen to 

 get very near the birds and yet remain unseen. 



In this whole class of sounds other than the true song, 

 we have a guide to their proper interpretation in the very 

 evident fact that all such single expressions, as chirps, 

 trills, twitters, and shrill cries, are always accompanied 

 by movements which are closely related to them. A 

 bird singing, except during courtship, when gymnastics 

 are indulged in, does not busy itself with anything else 

 at the same time. Thus, for instance, if busy feeding, 

 at the moment of inspiration, it quits its search for food, 

 and, taking up a suitable position, it begins its song and 

 keeps it up until wearied with the repetition or called 

 by its mate, or, struck by a sudden thought, away it goes, 

 to work it may be, or else it flies off to some distant 

 place. When, however, it is busy hunting for food, the 

 low chirps and an occasional twitter that accompany the 

 search indicate, if alone, that it is talking to itself, or, if 

 with company, that it is talking to them ; for a bird sur- 

 rounded by others, or in company with its mate, will 

 chirp more loudly and with a greater variation of notes 

 than when alone. If disturbed at such a time, how dif- 

 ferent an utterance is heard ! Who can doubt the mean- 

 ing of a frightened bird's alarm-cry ? And how quickly 

 is it responded to on the part of all the birds within hear- 

 ing? 



Probably the most marked instance of a difference in 

 the habits that accompany the chirp and the song proper 



