Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-07-01
Bird-Singing.

PEOPLE who have been born and bred
in the city know nothing of bird-song,
except as they hear canaries or other
feathered prisoners sing from cages, who
sing for living. This, indeed, is not to
be despised, but it is not the singing of
the free wild birds
Even those who live in the country sell
dom hear birds sing at their best. People
are in bed when the great concert comes
off. During May and June, birds wake
about half. past to o'clock in the morn
ing. Even if one goes to sleep again it is
worth his while to be awakened to hear
this wonderful outburst. There is moth
ing else in all the common phenomena of
nature that seems so admirable and so in
creasingly interesting as this.
Birds do not sing alike at all hours of
the day. An attentive ear will notice
not only very different strains, but very
different spirit. The midday singing is
casual, not prolonged, a mere interjection
here and there. They sing, as it were, to
while. away little time. At evening,
birds sing next in duration and effect to
the morning song, but more tender, less
tumultuOus 1t is in the morning that one
must hear them, who would know the
full ecstacy.
1t is very still. The dew lies heavy on
all things. In the east the light is COM
ing fast, and twilight every moment gains
new radiance. Not sound gives warn
ing of any coming song. Far off one
hears the hoarse hawk of goose, or
the bark of dog disturbed by some
early traveller. Then one hears a
single call note, as if the chorister were
calling attention and giving out the
pitch. It is answered in an inquiring
way by another bird, as much as to say
"Weare all ready; shall we beginr" Thes
one launches out, but has not uttered two
syllables before score of birds strike In
and then, from the fields, the forest edges
from orchards and gardens, from the
ground, the fences and the air, there comes
such Babel of sweet sounds, running
into each other, clashing, OVERLAPPING and
surging together, that one cannot dis
| tinguish any single songster note, but
only wild mingling of hundreds of birds
all singing at the very top of their power
as if fired by an ecstacy of gladness
This great gush of song lasts from twenty
minutes to half an hour, and then ceases
almost as simultaneously as it began. The
birds seem then to occupy themselves
with their toilet and breakfast. Aftel
which, but In far less general way, they
sing again off and on for an hour or two
Then they scatter and pursue the regular
business of the day, singing but little
until toward evening, unless the day b.
clouded. If the morning is overcast birdi
do not have their grand song But if OF
such days the noon be clear or tending Il
clear up, birds become quite vocal Sun
light has much to do with their disposi
tion to sing. The electrical condition o
the atmosphere, it is probable, has mucl
to do with inspiration of song.
While it is true that all song birds hav'
their greatest impulse of song at morning
and evening, there is great difference
among birds as to intermediate hours
The meadow lark, the bobolink, the field
sparrow, song-sparrow, linnets and finch
es, sing far more frequently during tn
day than do many others.
The minor and domestic notes of bird
are full as noticeable, though perhaps nc
as plessureable as their true song. IT on
will wander into the fields and hide hin
self on the verge of an open forest, Q
along walls we'll fringed with shrut
and vines, or in garden or orchard wher
birds resort, he will have an opportunit
of hearing many conversations which,
he could interpret them, would sho'
WudJ 10 gong on III DiIu5 minus. AhOi
are low notes of various kinds that are
birds what conversation is to men. The
are expressions of fondness, of cautiol
and of alarm.
There are call notes, notes of curiosit
coaxing notes, notes of aversion, OF tea
and of displeasure. There is no reason
suppose that bir]s communicate CO..
nected ideas as men do, but that the
feelings aud wishes are communicated
sounds, there eau be no doubt. 1t is q
inarticulate and inter- ectional languag
and not at all to be confounded with son
The tendency to express inward stat
of feeling is clearly discernable amor
birds and animals, and although 1t is u
merest rudiment, it seems like the und
veloped germ Of that which has grown
vast proportions in the human race
Beecher, IN OhrGstSGa Union.