A STUDY OF THE SINGING OF OUR BIRDS. 
BY EUGENE P. BICKNELL. 
[Concluded from f. 154.] 
Agelseus phceniceus. Red-shouldered Blackbird. 
In mild winters squads of Red-winged Blackbirds sometimes 
wander northward ahead of time. These find the swamps unpre- 
pared for them, and keep silence save for the dull chuck which it 
is customary for Blackbirds to use on all occasions. But song 
always accompanies the general migratory movement however 
early it may be entered upon, and I have known their spring con- 
cert to begin as early as February 22. No matter how backward 
the season, they will not brook more than a reasonable delay, and 
after the middle of March will come and settle and start singing 
even when the swamps are still ice-bound and they themselves 
are the only sign of spring. 
March and April, and less truly May, are here their chief song- 
months. Later they resign the gallantry of courtship and, per- 
haps viewing the practical situation to which it has brought them, 
lose their readiness of voice, many, in fact, being reduced to 
complete silence. This state of things begins to be noticeable 
after the middle of May, and gradually becomes more apparent, 
although singing never wholly fails before July. By the middle 
of that month, even though the birds continue abundant, usually 
but few remain in voice. Dates of final songs bear record between 
July 17 and 28, and August 3. 
After this time the movements of the species are rather perplex- 
ing. About the end of July almost all the adult males disappear, 
while the females and young remain abundant — even appear to 
increase in numbers — and multitudes often congregate at late 
afternoon in the mowed meadows. In September these have 
departed and the species is usually uncommon; indeed, in some 
years it appears to be altogether absent in this month. In October 
it becomes common again and singing is transiently renewed. But 
so fleeting is the period of autumn song that it may readily escape 
notice, and doubtless for this reason it is chronicled on my 
records only for two seasons. In 1878 it lasted froln October 14 
to 17, when song from a number of birds was full and perfect; 
in 1880 several songs of varying perfection were heard on Octo- 
ber 17, but on no other day. Ank( 2 , July, 1885 . p. 
