Published 1969-01-01
Abstract
I. Respiration and song production in birds. A study at Virginia Polytechnic Institute this Spring revealed that canaries breathe at very high frequencies during singing. There is a 1:1 correspondence between sound pulses and dorso-ventral thoracic movements even during fast trills of 22-27 notes and "mini-breaths" per second (Calder, in press, Comp. Biochem. Physiol. and The Physiologist). This finding indicated the desirability of comparative studies. Tape recordings of songs and calls were collected in the vicinity of the Station, from 26 species of birds selected for varying degrees of vocal complexity. These are being analyzed at reduced speeds to aid in the selection of subjects for future laboratory studies. Because of new complications in the requirements for a National Park collecting permit, no attempt was made to collect birds at this time. Project Number 161.