1SS4.J BiCKNELI. oil I lie Silio-imr of li/'lds. I "JO 



years fallino- between July 31 and Aui^ust 13. But sometimes a 

 song" w ill be beard late in tbe rnontb, as in 1878, wben a son<^ on 

 August 28 was tbe only one beard since tbe 7tb, altbougb obser- 

 vations bad been continued in tbe interim. 



In 1S79 observations failed to detect any singing during 

 August, but on September 7 a song was beard, wbicb was tbe 

 last. In 1S80 tbe case was still diflerent, isolated songs- being 

 scattered along tbrougb August till tbe 22d, after wbicb none 

 were beard until, on October 3, several birds were observed in 

 fine plumage and full song. Were it not for tbe latter observa- 

 tion, we might be disposed to conclude from our data tbat with 

 this species a second song-period, in late August or early Sep- 

 tember — some three or four weeks after tbe first — was indicated but 

 not well established. But tbe fact of several birds being in full 

 song on one occasion so late as October, wben they w^ei'e about 

 to leave us, leads us to suspect that the true second song-period 

 of tbe species may occur subsequent to its departure. Toward 

 tbe close of its vocal season this species sometimes sings in a low 

 uncertain way, after the manner of tbe House Wren. 



Cistothorus stellaris. Short-billed Marsh Wren. 



The scarcity and local distribution of this Wren has prevented 

 tbe acquirement of data suflSciently numerous for defining its 

 periods of song. Two periods, however, are indicated ; one 

 ending before the close cf August, the other beginning about a 

 month later and continuing at favorable times until tbe bird's 

 departure. One of these Wrens was heard in full song almost 

 daily between August 12 and 21, 1881, but nothing was after- 

 ward heard from the species until September 18. At this date 

 the songs lacked the vigor and definition of those of a month 

 earlier, but were more prolonged. This change was carried a 

 step farther in the songs of an individual taken September 22, 1878. 

 I have no record of songs between this date and October 23. In 

 1880, on the latter date (a late one for the species), one was 

 taken while singing, but the song w'as so subdued and rambling 

 as scarcely to be recognizable. Thus three at least of our 

 Wrens show the same character of variation in song from spring 

 to fall. 



The summer song of this bird normally presents three well 

 defined variations. Such versatility is unusual in a species, the 



