' " • ' • •' ■ 
The Singing of Birds. B.P.BiokneU. 
•a 
Auk, 2, July. 1886. p. JdTjZ 
Contopus virens. Wood Pewee. 
When it first comes the Wood Pewee seems to be a little shy 
of using its voice. Perhaps, with its solitary disposition, it is 
not at ease amid the confusion and medley of the migrations. At 
all events it puts off its coming till much of this is over with ; and 
in the summer it is most voiceful in the early morning and in the 
evening when it can have the woods all to itself. Often it 
may be heard repeating its plaintive, inquiring call when the 
woods are quite dark, either before the sun has risen or after it 
has set. 
In late July or early August its voice shows evidences of decline, 
and gradually the species goes out of song. In some seasons 
singing may continue with tolerable constancy through most of 
August, but it is never general in September, although occasional 
songs are to be heard up to the time of the bird’s departure. The 
latest songs are often stronger than those of several weeks previous. 
Dates of last songs for ten years are from August 28 and Septem- 
ber 2 to September 19 and 24. 
When singing is at its weakest, the song may be reduced to a 
single low note, suggestive of a low note of the Yellow-bellied 
Flycatcher. 
