■5 2 2 BiCKNELL on the Singi7ig of Birds. [October 



Synonym, Homonym, and their dirivatlves, to be used in 

 their current zoological senses. Other combinations and deriva- 

 tives of onym might be suggested, but the above examples will 

 suffice. 



S. S. Oregon, Mid-ocean, 

 May 27th, 1884. 



A STUDY OF THE SINGING OF OUR BIRDS. 



BY EUGENE P. BICKNELL. 



{Co7ttinued from p. 218.) 



Vireo flavifrons. Yellow-throated Vireo. 



This Vireo sings through July, August, and the early days of 

 September. Records of song in some years are not closely con- 

 secutive during the middle weeks of July, and again towards the 

 end of August ; but usually occasional songs prevent any signifi- 

 cant break in the record. If, however, the summer be exceed- 

 ingly hot and dry singing may be suspended for weeks at a time. 



Almost every year a few songs are to be heard in September, a 

 week or two after singing has apparently ceased. In 1878 sing- 

 ing continued with some regularity vintil September 7, after 

 which songs from single birds on the 12th and iSth were the last ; 

 in 1880 nothing was heard of the species between August 39 and 

 September 12 — on the latter date, as well as on the 17th and 

 i8th, full songs being heard; in 1881, September 6 and 19 limit 

 a hiatus in the record, though on the latter date, as well as on the 

 24th — my latest record — songs loud and full were heard. Mr. 

 Brewster has observed somewhat similar habits of late song with 

 this species at Cambridge, his latest record being September 11. 



This is the only one of our Vireos which I have observed to 

 sing while on the wing. On May 21, 1882,1 observed a pair 

 flying about among an open group of trees ; one was being fol- 

 lowed by the other : but their motions betrayed none of the ex- 

 citement of pursuer and pursued :' their flight was so easy and 



