VOL. VIII.] THE STUDY OF BIRD-NOTES. 7 



quavers in pp form the introduction, the next motive 

 is composed of two quavers repeated four times, two 

 of which are always connected, and the first is 

 emphasized — this is followed by the " roller," which 

 ends with a high tone ; the second " roller " in // (the 

 climax) holding the same tone, ends with four staccato 



STROPHE OF WREN. 



semiquavers ; the third " roller " is quite poor in tone 

 and ends, like the second, with a high tone. This finale 

 contains a rapidly descending decrescendo, whilst the 

 first to third part gradually ascends from pp to //. The 

 highest tones in the strophe are D5 and C5, the deepest 

 ones B4 and A4. One seldom finds a Wren which keeps 

 the same song even for a short time : indeed it is 

 continually changing it. 



In conclusion, a word concerning the significance 

 of the study of bird-notes. In Germany we value this 

 study for the following reasons : firstly, its cultivation 

 means a general increase and deepening of our knowledge 

 about the feathered world ; in particular, it increases 

 our knowledge of the existence of possible biological 

 kinds or races, and permits us even to-day, if only in a 

 few cases, to judge whence migratory birds come, by 

 observing and noting their original or imitating-song 

 as they move — for example, Corn-Bunting (refer to 

 Ardea, 1914, pp. 32-45). Then it expands immeasurably 

 the sphere of music and the view of musicians. To the 

 great mass of those who devote themselves to the study of 

 birds, as lovers of ornithology and nature, it is indis- 

 pensable, because we hear birds much more than we 

 see them, and in cases of doubt we are more ready to 



