6 



The Irish Naturalist. 



January, 



1. The songsters of the above species sing strongly 



before mating and as if to get a mate because, 



2. Some practically cease to sing after getting a mate. 



(Perhaps only true of the Yellow-hammer. 1 

 have not studied the Blackbird, but 1 notice 

 that an observer in " British Birds," September, 

 1920, incidentally mentions that a Blackbird 

 whose song had previously been almost incessant, 

 was much reduced after a mate arrived). 



3. Some practically cease to sing after the female 



begins to sit. (Generally true of Chaffinch, 

 Willow Wren, Grasshopper Warbler, White- 

 throat.) 



4. All have either ceased to sing or sing very much 



less while the female is sitting. (Chiffchaff 

 • doubtful.) 



5. A male otherwise silent may sing a bar or two 



while the female is oft the nest. 



6. There is no, or little, song when rearing brood. 



(Except Chiffchaff and Redpoll trill — see note 

 on Redpoll below ; \Mllow Wren sometimes 

 sings.) 



7. As might be deduced from the above, any strong 



continual singer is mateless. (Except perhaps 

 Chiffchaff and Redpoll.) And these mateless 

 males are further distinguished by their bold 

 advertisement of themselves. 



8. Mateless males may sing on for weeks or months 



before mating ; not changing their site, and in 

 some cases hardly even changing their particular 

 perch. 



9. Thus the bulk of the song of these species, except 



Chiffchaff and Redpoll, is from birds before 

 mating. And its prolongation in any strength 

 during several months is mainly due to a supply 

 of unmated males, coupled with the recrudescence 

 of song where there are second broods. 



