222 EVOLUTION OF BIRD-SONG 



starling. A pair of the latter species had a nest 

 within ten yards of the singer ; hence I was able to 

 compare the imitations (which were excellent) with 

 their originals. The swallow, wagtail, and house- 

 sparrow were also abundantly imitated. The swallow's 

 song was capitally rendered seven times successively. 

 Mr. H. C. Playne informs me that he has heard 

 numbers of these birds near Oxford, and that they 

 are good mimics. 



MIMICRY OF THE WHEATEAR 



This bird is not generally considered a good 

 mimic, but the late Dr. H. L. Saxby held the 

 opposite opinion. He wrote : " Upon very many 

 occasions I have heard the wheatear successfully 

 imitating the notes of the following birds : House- 

 sparrow, skylark (part of song), common bunting, 

 mountain linnet, peewit, golden plover, ringed plover, 

 redshank, oyster - catcher, and herring - gull. So 

 complete is the deception, that when the bird has 

 been out of sight I have many times been thoroughly 

 taken in " (Birds of Shetland, p. 68). 



MIMICRY OF THE GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN 



The song of this diminutive bird generally consists 

 of repetitions of a shrill squeak, accelerated towards 



