89 



The most common one sounds like con-cur-ee. But there is 

 also almost endless mingling of guttural, creaking, or clear 

 utterances that defy description." 



Townsend (1905), in listening to the voices of a New England 

 marsh, found that on the 22d of May the Redwings ceased 

 singing at 7.30 p.m. They did not sing during the night nor 

 begin in the morning until between 3 and 3.15, after the Cat- 

 bird, Song Sparrow, and Tree Swallow had begun to sing. 

 Full dawn appeared at 3.45. At a later day (June 24) the 

 Redwings were found to continue singing for about three- 

 quarters of an hour after sundown. 



To attempt to put in words what such men as Baird, Brewer, 

 and Ridgway have considered indescribable, may appear some- 

 what rash. Nevertheless it would be advantageous to de- 

 scribe or classify, if possible, the various notes given, for they 

 are not so infinite in number as might be supposed (at least 

 not so at Ithaca). The greatest difficulty lies in the selec- 

 tion of words, letters, or symbols that will convey a sound 

 similar to that uttered by the bird. The con-cur-ee, kong-quer- 

 ree, or gur-gel-lee note, as it has been variously called, is 

 sufficiently described to need no further remarks here. It 

 represents the true song. It may be modified by the addition 

 of various of the call notes to be next considered, but it is 

 always recognizable. It is always accompanied by spreading 

 of the wings and tail feathers and by erection of practically 

 all the body feathers, especially those of the shoulder patches. 

 It is given by the males alone, from first arrival until the middle 

 of July, and again, to some extent, in the fall. In addition to 

 this song, there is another, restricted to the males, which is 

 heard occasionally on cold days of spring, especially by the 

 first '^ vagrants" to arrive. These birds seldom give the kong 

 quer-ee note, but indulge in a low monotone chuckle, which is 

 difficult of description. A large flock engaged in this mono- 

 tone can be heard for a considerable distance. 



The call notes can be put into two groups, the check notes 

 and the whistles. Of the former there are two which are 

 easily recognized. The first is the flight note, which may be 

 represented by the word chuck. This is the note which first 



