2l6 BiCKNELL on the Singing of Birds. [J"'y 



only members of the family Mniotiltldas with which the song- 

 flight is a normal and i-egular habit. 



Icteria virens. Yellow-breasted Chat. 



Regularly up to the middle of July, and sometimes through the 

 third or even fourth week of the month, this species continues in 

 song. Imperfect songs may sometimes be heard in early August, 

 but rarely later, although my record extends to August 14. 

 Dates of fairly perfect final songs range between July 15 and 

 August I. After the cessation of song the singular c/^a^' note of 

 the species may yet be heard about the shrubbery which it still 

 closely haunts ; but even this seems to be discontinued before its 

 departure. 



This eccentric bird is perhaps our only species which regular- 

 ly sings at night. Where Chats abound, it is a common expe- 

 rience to hear at one time several singing with full vigor at most 

 .untimely hours ; and from my window I have listened to such 

 serenades on many successive nights. They sing both when the 

 moon is bright and when the night is clear and dark ; their odd 

 notes interrupting the midnight stillness with peculiar effect. 

 Thus have I heard them into the small hours. 



Myiodioctes mitratus. Hooded Warbler. 



The first song-period of this species seems rarely to pass early 

 July — latest dates, July 10 and 15. Perfect songs heard in the 

 fourth week of August locate the second song-period. At this 

 time the plumage is approaching maturity. 



As has before been reported, this species possesses two difl^er- 

 ent songs, or perhaps more truly, two distinct variations of one. 

 These differences, however, are neither individual nor seasonal, 

 but seem to come within the normal vocal compass of the species, 

 both songs being used indiscriminately by the same bird. This 

 fact has been noted by Rev. J. H. Langille in the 'Bulletin of the 

 Nuttall Ornithological Club' for April, 18S2 (pp. 119, 120), 

 whose experience in its discovery was very similar to my own. 

 I well remember with what interest and excitement I followed one 

 of the songs of this bird about the woods on many different days, 

 expecting to make a new bird acquaintance, and with what sur- 



