86 Bird - Lore
on one occasion when suddenly joined by his mate, the metallic over- tones were less prominent, and in certain of the key varieties they were nearly absent. The long opening notes were the freest, the high, rapid ones the most burdened with overtones. At their worst the highest figures were occasionally almost squeaky. but in the full song they were by no means lacking in sweetness. and they were always clear and sharp.
Heard from a very close range the long, full notes were fairly piercingv so sweet, full and vibrant were they. They were too loud for comfort, and when the bird suddenly began to sing while perched on a fence about ten feet from my tent it fairly made my ears ring
The most characteristic feature of the song in the line of vocal modu» lation was as simple as the phrase itself, but equally effective. The opening long note was struck firmly and held sometimes with a slight crescendo. but the succeeding rapid figures were progressively diminished in loudness, until the last clearly uttered notes faded away in a silvery tinklc, This smorzmzrla or i/imimmula utterance was almost habitual with the “Camp Thrush," and was indescrihahly effective. It suggested the modulation of the piano player, since it surpassed in extent of diminution and in delicacy of utterance at the end anything within the compass of a wind instrument, But the piano smarzam/n would lack the crescendo on the opening note.
The whole song was vigorous and sure in delivery, slow—since the phrases. taking at the most two and a half seconds in delivery, were separated by four to six seconds of silenceibut perfectly steady in tempo, and certain in execution. The unusual richness and vibrant power of the tone, enhanced by the effective rmorzmula utterances of successive phrases, with the never-failing alternation of key and pitch, marked the song 05 from any other sound of the Canadian woods.
This bird was by no means unusual, nor, on the contrary. identical with others of his species. His nearest neighbor differed from him in several marked ways, being less regular in songrform, having much more variety in his phrases, using minor as well as major keys, being less distinct and finished in utterance although rather sweeter in voice, singing a little more slowly and a little less loudly, being rather inferior in penetration, and not using the smar'zmula delivery so muclL But both were master—singers.
