The Singmg of Birds. B.P.Bioknell. 



Sitta carolinensis. White-bellied Nuthatch. 



The first positive suggestions of awakening spring are often 

 sufficient to entice this bird into song, such as its song is — a run- 

 ning repetition of a single note. But the result is nevertheless 

 agreeable, the notes possessing a mellow or resonant quality, 

 and, at a season when few birds are to be heard, is a conspicuous 

 and characteristic sound. The bird's eagerness sometimes leads 

 it to place confidence in a January thaw, when its song-notes may 

 sometimes be heard ; but these premature beginnings are usually 

 followed by many dreary days of silence. December 22, 1882, 

 and January 11, in the mild winter of 1880, are the earliest dates 

 I have for the first song. On the latter occasion the performer 

 had partially emerged from the entrance of an old Woodpeck- 

 er's nest, and not improbably had been influenced by the sugges- 

 tions of the situation. I have several times noticed Bluebirds in 

 song at unusual times while engaged in inspecting retrospective 

 or prospective homes. 



Though with the Nuthatches singing may not be fully instituted 

 until the latter part of February, individuals are usually to be 

 heard on fine days about the middle of the month, even if the 

 preceding weather should have been severe. 



This species is not constantly abundant with us, and at times 

 seems to be altogether wanting, so that absence of song may 

 imply silence only in the sense of there being no birds to sing. 

 The "species was abundant in the season of 1879, which was of 

 normal character, and may thus be taken as a representative one. 

 Full song was first heard February 16. and again March 2, after 

 which singing was constant to the middle of the month, thence 

 decreasing towards tlie end. In April and May, song-notes were 

 heard on several separated dates, extending through the former 

 month, and up to the nth day of the latter. These appeared to 

 conclude the season of song ; but on several days of early July 

 brief song-notes were heard. Similar apparently exceptional 

 dates were recorded in another year, and a close approach to the 

 true song-notes was once heard on July 23. It is probable that 

 these late notes were from the parents of delayed broods. I have 

 no record of the song-notes for a later period of the year, and in 

 some years I have not heard them later than March. The usual 

 call notes are a nasal ' Tank- Tank.' 



I find the Nuthatch all through the winter almost without fat. 

 When fat is present it is of a clear, pale sulphur color, while that 

 of the Red-beUied Nuthatch is more opaque and of a deep orange- 

 yellow. Auk, I. April. 1884. P. /S^'-ZSC,^ 



