The Singing of Birds. E.P.Bicknell. 
Icteria virens. Yellow-breasted Chat. 
Regularly up to the middle of July, and sometimes through the 
third or even fourth week of the month, this species continues in 
song. Imperfect songs may sometimes be heard in early August, 
but rarely later, although my record extends to August 14. 
Dates of fairly perfect final songs range between July 1.5 and 
August 1. After the cessation of song the singular chat note of 
the species may yet be heard about the shrubbery which it still 
closely haunts ; but even this seems to be discontinued before its 
departure. 
This eccentric bird is perhaps our only species which regular- 
ly sings at night. Where Chats abound, it is a common expe- 
rience to hear at one time several singing with full vigor at most 
untimely hours ; and from my window I have listened to such 
serenades on many successive nights. They sing both when the 
moon is bright and when the night is clear and dark ; their odd 
notes interrupting the midnight stillness with peculiar effect. 
Thus have 1 heard them into the small hours. 
Auk, I, July, 1884. p. JL / G . 
