1SS4.J JJlCKNELL on tlic Singing oj Birds. 33^ 



spring. Nevertheless it is s(jinetiines not uncommon at that sea- 

 son, and may sing with some constancy. At Sing-vSing, twenty 

 miles north of Riverdale, in May, 1882, Dr. Fisher found it in 

 some numbers, and heard its full song between May 9 and 26. 

 Dr. Fisher alludes to the song as suggestive of that of the 

 Meadow Lark. 



Zonotrichia albicollis. White-throated Sparrow. 



This Sparrow is here a winter resident, appearing from further 

 north in the latter part of September, and remaining into May. 

 I have heard its song every month during its stay ; but in winter, 

 except at .the borders of the season, singing is exceptional and 

 always of imperfect expression. Song at this season seems merely 

 to result from individual caprice. 



Perhaps none of our birds shows greater irregularity from year 

 to year in the time of general entry into spring singing than the 

 White-throated Sparrow. While early April seems to be the 

 usual time for singing to begin, it is not unusual for it to com- 

 mence at any time in March, and in an abnormally inild season 

 may begin before the end of February. On the other hand, it is 

 sometimes deferred until the middle of April. Dates of final spring 

 songs run through May to the 20th, and usuall}', though not 

 always, occur a week or more before the species has disappeared. 

 This discrepancy between the time of final song and departure, 

 which is also noticeable with other species, is doubtless to be at- 

 tributed to the fact of the songless females outstaying the males. 



When the White-throated Sparrows reappear among us, in 

 September, they are songless, and a week or two may elapse be- 

 fore they give voice. Dates of first autumn songs, of several sea- 

 sons, range from October 3d to 7th. 



The White-throated Sparrow has two especially characteristic 

 single notes ; a low cheep., and a resonant, metallic chink. This 

 last sounds not unlike the clink of a metal hammer and drill, and 

 when it is uttered by several birds in regular turn the eflect in 

 sound is strongly suggestive of that of quarriers at work near by. 

 This note chiefly belongs to the late afternoon and early evening, 

 and seems to be in general use only when a part}^ of the birds are 

 settling for the night about some chosen shelter. About my resi- 

 dence are large closely-grouped Norway spruces. At sundown, 



