Bird Observations 



them, and could see the blackcap, slender 

 black bill, ash grey breast, and the greyish 

 olive back, no white marks. Movements 

 were like our vireos', only a little quicker. 

 They sang in the garden back of the hotel 

 from 6 a. m. to 7 130 p. m. with no very 

 long intervals. I never heard so much song 

 from any species. Song varied very much. 

 Heard at a distance, or when sung softly 

 it was much like our warbling vireo's. 

 When full it was much more vigorous, 

 brilliant, varied, and with an oriole quality. 

 At its best it was as loud and lively as a 

 Japanese robin's. The ordinary intervals 

 were about the same length as a warbling 

 vireo's. Often the bird began with a few 

 sputtering notes, and he introduced a great 

 many small chips and chirps between the 

 songs. Sometimes he would whistle three 

 or four notes all on one note during his 

 song, quite noticeable. Song usually 

 "worked upwards' 7 in key as a ruby king- 

 let's does, as the song went on higher 

 at the end than at the beginning. Still 

 this was not always so. There is quite a 

 suggestion of the purple finch in it. At its 

 best it was a loud, noticeable and very 

 beautiful and varied song. Birds seemed 

 very shy, though they sang over my head 



[174] 



