CONTENTS ix 



CHAPTER VII 



THE INFLUENCE OF HEREDITY IN THE PERPETUATION OF 



THE CRIES OF BIRDS 



PAGES 



Absolute inheritance of cries in plovers, common fowl, duck, swan, 

 pheasant, etc. Family cries Cries of allied young more 

 alike than those of allied adults The cahs of the crows : 

 heard in starling and jay Similarity between starling and 

 thrushes Rattling alarm of mistle-thrush, modified in black- 

 bird, ousel, song -thrush, fieldfare, and American robin 

 Similarity of occasions of utterance of alarms by blackbird and 

 European robin Similarities traced in call-notes of birds of 

 the thrush family : also between their songs Prevalence of 

 imitation The warblers Particular cry common to nightin- 

 gale, willow-warbler, and chiffchaff Similar alarm-croaks of 

 nightingale, sedge- warbler, and lesser whitethroat Recapitu- 

 lation Similarities between notes of wagtails Songs of tree- 

 pipit and meadow-pipit described : similarity to that of sky- 

 lark Larks of three continents, with the same manner of 

 song Family resemblances in the buntings Resemblance 

 between call -notes of yellow bunting and greenfinch in 

 flight Notes of the finches Canary has family traits Tell 

 tell cries of house -sparrow and greenfinch Similar cries 

 of young chaffinch and young house-sparrow Various other 

 orders mentioned . . . . . .86-139 



CHAPTER VIII 



VARIATION IN BIRD-VOICES : ITS CAUSES AND EFFECTS 



Prevalence of variation Instances mentioned by authors 

 Variation in songs of blackbird, yellow-hammer, chaffinch, 

 robin, house-sparrow, and cuckoo Illustrated in the robin's 

 alarm ....... 140-158 



