ere A ete BOON) eBeU bis FL EIeN 9 
most of the migration is over, and it is a good time to start watching some 
one phase of behavior in a single species, or the nesting activities of a 
single pair. 
Studies of such a nature will bring all the thrills of discovery, the 
satisfaction of accomplishment, and the joy of bird watching that comes 
with attaining a big list. No better proof of this could be offered than the 
notes on the red-eyed vireos by Mrs. Margaret Morse Nice in the last issue 
of the Bulletin. Although she is a distinguished ornithologist and has 
studied bird behavior for many years, it would be most apparent to the 
reader that she enjoyed her little study in Jackson Park, even if she had 
not written, “I was delighted with my discovery.” 
Incidentally, everyone who is at all interested in “how birds live” should 
read her scholarly life history of the song sparrow and Mr. Hickey’s book 
on bird watching. Both of these stimulating works tell us how and what to 
look for, and are a challenge to add to our knowledge of birds. 
809 Michigan ave., Evanston 
ft ft ff 
Song of the Yellow-Headed Blackbird 
By F. J. FREEMAN 
THE SONG OF THE yellow-headed blackbird is described in the Audubon 
Bird Guide as starting with ‘‘a few harsh, distinct notes and deteriorating 
into a jumble of sounds which ends in a long, rasping squeal.” But “that 
ain’t the way I heard it!” 
The first time I heard the song of this blackbird was at Baker Lake, 
Barrington, Ill. I heard the bird singing in the middle and far distance of 
the slough, but did not see it or know what it was. It did not sound like 
anything I had ever heard, and indeed for a moment I thought it was the 
musical squeaking of the windmill on the farther shore. The song had a 
pastoral piping quality wholly in keeping with the peaceful, sunlit scene 
before me. The following musical notations are the variations of the song 
as they sounded to me: 
A week or so later I had the good fortune to see a yellow-head sing his 
song within 10 feet of me. It had all the raucous, asthmatic qualities at- 
tributed to it; but in the undertones — a peculiar double quality — I could 
detect the music of my mysterious singer. The distance had filtered out 
the harsh noises and left the pure music! Which does the female respond 
to, I wonder? Perhaps she is attracted from a distance by the music and 
dominated close at hand by the harshness. On the other hand the harsh 
noise and swelling of the feathers may serve to intimidate intruding males. 
