BIRDS AT THEIR BEST 33 



as the mind is impressed by the measured tinkling 

 notes of these two songs, emitted as the birds 

 descend to earth, it is not probable that ahy 

 person who had not heard them for a number 

 of years would be able to distinguish or keep 

 them separate in his mind — to hear them in 

 their images as two distinct songs. 



In the case of the good singers in that distant 

 region, I find the voices continue remarkably 

 distinct, and as an example will give the two 

 melodious families of the finches and the troupials 

 (Icteridae), the last an American family, related 

 to the finches, but starling -like in appearance, 

 many of them brilliantly coloured. Of the first 

 I am acquainted with 14 and of the second with 

 12 species. 



Here then are 26 highly vocal species, of 

 which the songs, calls, chirps, and various other 

 notes, are distinctly remembered in 23. Of the 

 other three one was silent — a small rare migratory 

 finch resembling the bearded-tit in its reed-loving 

 habits, its long tail and slender shape, and partly 

 too in its colouring. I listened in vain for this 

 bird's singing notes. Of the remaining two one 

 is a finch, the other a troupial ; the first a pretty 



D 



