BIRD MUSIC 21 



the other two and appropriately placed, and the 

 three birds sang twice around this trio. 



3kd Bikd 2nd Bikd 1st Bird 



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TRIO OF MEADOWLAKKS 



All these cases seem to show conclusively that 

 birds do possess musical appreciation. 



Classification of bird songs. It is extremely diffi- 

 cult to make a classification of bird songs that will 

 appeal to all people in the same way, but the 

 following crude grouping is suggested as hinting at 

 some of the more conspicuous differences in bird 

 songs : — 



Instrumentalists. The first group might be called 

 "instrumentalists," as they do not make the sound 

 with the throat, but with the bill, wings, or an air- 

 sac. In its general purpose, however, the sound 

 made corresponds with the songs of the song-birds. 

 The woodpeckers, the ruffed grouse, and the prairie 

 chicken belong to this group. The woodpeckers pro- 

 duce their note by beating on a limb with their bills. 

 The grouse produces its sound by beating the air 

 with its wings. The prairie chicken produces his 

 booming sound by means of air-sacs situated on the 

 sides of the head. 



Syllable songs. A second group of songs may in- 

 clude those which possess enough similarity to 



