Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-01-30

fun of winter jubilee. As has been
well said. his "foliorn. broken-winded
whistle" IL ut least amusing" much
more so than the Stiffness uttered about
the bird
There Is no Instance when the whis-
per song Is 50 readily overheard as
In the case of the whIte-throated spar
row. Indeed. for days together, as
these birds linger on u hills south
side and scarcely move from the thick
ct they frequent there is little else
heard than the meditative, self-enter-
tanning notes. As all are singing at
short intervals, it would seem as II no
one individual had time or inclination
TO listen to the others hae
Now, the whlte-thrOated sparrow Is
not with us an active bird. II Is rest
less ut times, but not given to violent
exertlon. With full stomach the
height of Its ambition, existence be-
comes a period of restful meditation,
and 1t is little wonder that with moth
ing else to do these birds should whis.
tie Not like the cardinal, clear and
loud, or mandatory, as the Carolina
wren, shouting "Iistcnl listen listen"
but like the weary man who Is at last
at his ease, and huns few notes or
whistles bar or two as an expression
of relief r0.
Easy, easy, let me beW MARBLES
the white throat; occasionally so dig
tinctly that the woods are filled with
the sound, more often set at so low
pitch that you must be very near to
determine that II Is this, or, indeed,
any, bird that you hear,
think both the tree sparrow and
the snow bird have their whisper
songs. Certainly they twitter without
ceasing except when asleep, and they
are here during those months when
vocal efforts may be classed as neces-
sary rather than voluntary or not mn
steal for the muscs sake. But there
ls one variation from this II you
creep carefully into a thicket and wait
until your presence ceases to cause
suspicion, the chances are that you Will
hear a few low notes of the typical
nesting-day song. Observing the birds
manner at such time, II reminds one
of n person trying to recall song by
whistling in an undertone. This sure
ly the bird Is not doing, but singing
In a whispering way to please Its pass
ing within.
Two birds very familiar to the per
sistent rambler are the tree creeper
and winter wren. Weeks may pass
and you will hear nothing but a chirp,
and often the wren will not so much
as twltter when alarmed, but patience
will probably be rewarded Mt least
once in winter by hearing few
sweet notes, perhaps several times
repeated, and then the old mute man
ner Is resumed.
In the case Of the tree creeper, the
petulant squeak Is not always uttered
even when you go quite near and In
terrupt the birds progress about the
trunk OF a tree. The same Is true OF
the winter wren. II Is swift and silent
as mouse at times, and rarely chirps
while here, In winter, except as ! have
mentioned. It can scarcely be denied
that when these two birds do give way
to song there must be some strong
incentive, and the few warbled notes
have no reference to aught beyond
themselves.
The woodpeckers are a noisy race
mechanically and vocally, but no note
OF theirs can be called musical, nor
has any the significance Of thrush's
song. The golden winged woodpecker,
forever screaming chatterIng, and
much given to ordinations Of sur
prise, occasionally also thinks aloud,
for ! have often surprised II, when
alone, chuckllng and chntterlnR TO II
self, as I have known some very old
women TO do.
The surroundings tell the true story.
The bird Is medtntng. Possibly what
have heard II analogous To the grunt
OF satisfaction after n full meal. The
song Of the English robin has been
stated to lack in autumn "the Joyous
ness Of spring and the bird, In SYM
pathy with the departing season,
seems to breathe a plalntive and mel
ancholy strain" ! prefer, after much
observation, to use In such instances
among our own birds the term "medI-
tative" rather than melancholy"
In wOndrOus contrast TO the wood
peckers are the two foremost resi-
dent song birds. MS Joyous and as given
10 singing In January ms In June. These
are the Carolina wren and crested IT,
Either can be heard full half1nile
away ON still, clear day yet ] have
surprised both these birds singing their
familiar songs, or parts Of them, In so
low key that II was by mere chance
that / heard them NJ all. These birds
Clearly indicate that "whisper songs"
are not nm evidence ~ any peculiar
physical condition. The moment fol
lowing their utternnce they may cause
the woods 10 ring with their exultn'
lions, for no songs In the Jersey woods
are more suggestive Of victory--not
over fallen foe, hut over the efforts
OF winter 10 dislodge them-not even
those OF the host Of summer songsters,
The Carolina wren and crested 1T
nearly reach the highest ideals in the
bird world.
But one conclusion can be drnwn
think, from the study ~ these triflcs
Of melody that scarcely break the ~
lence. They point TO n higher plane
Of mentality than we usually credit
birds with possessing. They point TO
appreciation OF leisure, Of relief from
the many cares that enter their lives.
As the tired laborer goes homeward
from his work at close Of day he is apt
to express his pleasure by whlstllng as
he walks Akin 20 this Is the medl-
tntlve undertone ~ many bird when,
contentcd and e1fo n expresses lts
f"cllnes ~ Ylf rcd SONG.
THE DOCTORS DEMING,