The Singing of Birds. B.P.B-ciiaell. 



Dendroeca aestiva. Summer Warbler. 



Sings from its arrival in late April through July, but usually 

 with diminished frequency toward the end of the month, although 

 in some years it continues in full song nearly until mid-August. 

 Ordinarily singing ceases in the second week of August ; rarely 

 earlier, but sometimes later. Extreme dates are August 4, 5, 

 and 9, and August 18 and 19. This is the season of the bird's 

 departure. Auk, I, July. 1884. p. X/X. 



MASS. ( Middlesex Co.) 



^ Tzt: ^^^te: ^ ^^^^^^ 



BIrte •f "West^TD North Carolina. 

 "WiUiam Breweter. 



70. Dendroica aestiva. Yellow Warbler.— Abundant everywhere 

 below 2800 feet, especially in willows and sycamores along the banks of 

 streams. Throughout the region its song was very different from that of 

 our northern bird and bore a much closer resemblance to the song ot the 

 Nashville Warbler, for which, indeed, I at first mistook it. 



Amm 8. AjwU. I88e. p.««/7V 



,; As 



to incessant singing, I think tlie Yellow 

 Warbler deserves the laurels. All day long, 

 or nearly so, it keeps up its pleasing tune at 

 the rate on an average of six vocal perform- \ 

 ances every minute. I have had opportunity i 

 lately to notice the singing of an individual 

 Yellow Warbler and I tind that every ten 

 seconds, on an average, he rolls out his ditty; 

 and he keeps it up throughout the day. Now 

 let us figure on this. Supposing he begins at 

 6 A.M. (and I have known him to begin at 4 

 o'clock) and sings until 7 p.m. We will allow 

 him one hour for breakfast and the same time 

 for dinner and supper and we will also give him 

 a generous allowance of an hour's I'esting spell 

 ill the middle of the afternoon. (But let me 

 say hei-e that I have known him to sing at all 

 his meals and never knew him to take a mid- 

 afternoon rest.) But with these generous 

 allowances, what is the result? Why, during 

 the lapse of one short day he has sung us 

 .3,240 little songs. They all are the same to be 

 sure, but none the loss pleasing for all that. 

 The study of the notes of birds is a most 

 pleasing and instructive one to me. 



JVeiZ F. Possnn. 



Medina, N.Y. O.&O. XI V.^ . 1839 p. 



