lax sailing; first dasliiDg through space to the edge 
of the glade, which was probably twenty feet 
across ; then rising to the tops of the bushes, he 
would half flutter, half fall towards his prospect- 
ive mate. On a sudden he would flutter directly 
upward as we often see the English Sparrow or 
House Wren do, and reaching a height of twenty 
feet or more, dash about the clearing in varying 
circles, ever tending in his flight toward the object 
of his extravagant attention. She in the mean- 
while sat silent and evidently interested in the per- 
formance. Suddenly the male dropped beside 
her, and alternately clashing and wheeling about, 
but continually on the move and always revolv- 
ing about her, gave evidence of bis adoration by a 
series of hops, dignified stmts, droopings of the 
head and tail, elevation of the wings and crest, 
which would have done credit to both the Turkey 
and the Ruffed Grouse. While on the ground the 
song was kept up witli the usual vigor, but the 
interruption by the coarser, common notes was 
more frequent and the bird stopped in its struts 
in order to utter the notes which apparently 
caused him more effort than did the more beauti- 
ful song. The appearance of a third party on the 
scene, probably also a lover, caused the first per- 
former to dash into the brush much to my dis- 
appointment. 
That the love-song is not common is evident to 
all, and the very fact of Us having remained so 
long unknown is proof of its rarity. After my 
first experience I watched continually for the 
beautiful song, but did uot hear it until the follow- 
ing year, although the woods were filled with the 
common notes. The following Spring, while sit- 
ting at the roots of a gigantic elm, a female of 
this species fluttered near, carrying material in 
her beak, evidently intended for nest construction. 
While watching her, the male suddenly made his 
appearance, and the scene of the previous year 
and with, I think, superior musical performance, 
was cuacted in my presence. However, in this 
instance the male rarely descended to the ground, 
evidently being fully mated and not considering 
it necessary to strut about after securing his part- 
ner to the extent of nest construction being in 
progress. Since that time I have never heard the 
song, although a thousand chatters have reached 
Bty cars. Q.&O. X. ./?/-/£)[ 
Mr. A. W. Butler, Corresponding-Secretary of 
the Brookville Society of Natural History, In- 
ti iarntpiie nds us a circular calling a meeting at In- 
dianapolis'toa.Dcccnibcr .89tli, at which a state- 
ment of the preseWM^mdition of each branch of 
Science that is beAngsEM-iqj within the borders 
of the State, 1^45” be given, for'tkejmrposo of in- 
teresting the people in the proposed State 
Acadenay of Science. Mr. Butler is to pre§e«ta 
paper on Ornithology. 
rwj WH 
f 1 ^ A" ^ i> L k [ 1' ^ 
N |: 
' W i* '<■ 
The Singing of Birds. E.P.Bickneli. 
Siurus auricapillus. Oven-bird. 
Toward the end of June the song of this bird, which has been 
so constantly accentuated through our woodland for two months, 
becomes less frequent, and though heard into July, comparatively 
few individuals sing through the month. In some seasons I have 
missed it after the first week, but in others have heard it with 
some regularity through the second week, with rarely a chance 
i song in the week following; July 33 is my latest date. 
The second song-period occurs in August, and is transient and 
irregular; with varying seasons shifting a little to either side of 
the middle of the month. Rarely it continues imperfectly into 
September. August 9 and September 5 constitute extreme 
boundary dates, but at neither limit were the songs perfect. As 
if the power of song was gradually regained at the maturity of 
the new plumage, the time of silence which follows the breeding 
season, accompanying the moult, is finally interrupted, not with 
sudden recommencement of song, but gradually with the 
cessation of feather-growth. About the middle of August a few 
notes suggestive of their song may now and then be heard about 
