1899
May
(2)
early spring with the Junco tsup or tup coming in
frequently among the short, connecting notes. This song should 
perhaps be regarded as a variation of No.1 but I did
not once hear the bird change from one to the other.
That both songs were literal copies of those of the Junco
can admit of no doubt.
[margin]Notes on 
Lincoln's Finch[/margin]
3. A rapid warbler, at times flowing smoothly and
evenly and in general effect exceedingly like the song of
the Purple Finch; at others brighter and more glancing the
notes rolling one over another & and suggesting those of the
Ruby-crowned Kinglet; again with a rich, throaty quality
and in form as well as tone very closely like the song of
the House Wren; still again guttural and somewhat
broken or stuttering and very suggestive of the song
of the Long-billed Marsh Wren. Although the first
and last of these songs are very unlike I have classified
them under one head because the bird often gave them
all during one singing period and, moreover, changed
from one to another by insensible gradations.
4. Song in slow, measured bars or cadenas [sic] [candenzas], separated
by brief intervals, swelling and sinking, some of the 
notes trilled or "shaken" the whole given after the 
manner of the songs of the Hermit thrush & Bachman's 
Finch and almost equally spiritual in quality.
  With such a repertoire   -  even though it be borrowed
or stolen - Lincoln's Finch might readily take rank
as the first among American singing birds were
it not that his voice has apparently so little power
that one must be very near him to appreciate its 
[delete]full[/delete] remarkable beauty & flexibility.
98