SONG TRAIT

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3210, 22 September 1934, Page 3

SONG TRAIT

BIRDS OF NEW ZEALAND. No other wild ibirds in the world possess the trait that those of New Zealand do of performing songs capable of heing written down in the scale of harmonics in which music is written, according to Mr Johannes Andersen. In a lecture at the Wellington Theosophieal Hall he said that long and patient obsei*vation had shown him that without doubt New Zealand native birds had, in addition to their very 'beautiful wildwood songs which could not he translated into the musical notation, many definite and varied "art songs." Describing the morning chorus of birds in the ibuislh, Mr Anderson said that the first single call of the bellbird came just 'before dawn, and the song was taken up by other birds at a particular phrase until all had joined in. That chorus, which was alwaysidentical, although varied occasionally by the introduction of semi or quarter tones Iby one 'bird, lasted from thirty to forty minutes. The lecturer gave many instance® of the concerted singing of other species of ibirds, notably the ibrowh creeper, the grey warbler, and the tui. He explained the remarkable versatility of the last named, whose range of notes encompassed four octaves, and whose song excelled in heauty of tone and rhythm that of the English nightingale.' ' - ~