i96 NOTATION OP BIRD'S SONGS. 



hear a bird unable to complete his strain, as we often are, 

 by taking a pitch above or below the compass of the 

 voice. 



Emily. Have there been any attempts made to re- 

 duce their songs to our musical notation ? It would be 

 quite pleasant to have the songs of some birds written 

 out, and play them OH the piano. 



Dr. B. Such attempts have been frequently made, 

 but in most instances an insurmountable difficulty is found 

 in the minuteness of their intervals. The smallest in- 

 terval in common use in music, you know is the semi- 

 tone, and although much smaller intervals are used in 

 harmony, they are not easily appreciated in simple melo- 

 dy probably on account of our being so accustomed to 

 the grosser intervals. In some instances however, we 

 find no difficulty in writing the notes of birds on our 

 staff. The song of the cuckoo, is a well known and 

 striking instance of this, in which the interval of minor 

 third occurs. But our time is too far gone, to say any 

 more on this subject. 



