Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 June 1892 — The Songs of Birds. [ARTICLE]

The Songs of Birds.

A naturalist writes: 80 far from “all Iho songs ” of the warblers being “ iovo tongs,” I should say that comparatively few of thorn were that. First of all, lam oouvinced that they sing, as human beings do, for the love of it. Then there Is musical rivalry ! 1 have seen and { beard a bluckcap and a whltethroat singing against eaoh other on the same treo, and I believe that it onded in their flying at each othor, but the boughs interven- ; ing I oould not be sure. Then robins when they have their young about—a time of groat anxiety to the old ones— Hug continually to let them know where they are to be found and keep them together, and 1 have notioed that there is ono long, low, often-repeated, and most pathetic note (they call it “ weeping ” bore) which is used to draw a young one out of danger, and it is very effective. . Not that they rely on that only; they will sometimes dash down violently on th* little one and drive it away if it approaches one too rashly.