MIMICRY OF REED-BUNTING 223 



the close ; but sometimes this strain is supplemented 

 with variations, and even with imitations. On 

 26th February 1890, I approached to within three 

 feet of a goldcrest singing in a closely-cut hedge. 

 Sometimes it uttered the notes of the coal titmouse, 

 in other phrases those of the blue titmouse, and 

 short squeaks like those of these tits, also the _/?;// of 

 the chaffinch. On the 23rd of March following I 

 heard a goldcrest reproduce exactly the pirn im 

 iinimim of the blue tit, and it also sang a note of 

 the coal tit. 



MIMICRY OF THE WHITETHROATS 



Both the whitethroat and lesser whitethroat often 

 mimic a little, but their imitations are not very 

 numerous nor distinct. 



MIMICRY OF THE NUTHATCH 



As already stated, I have heard the nuthatch 

 repeat exactly a characteristic note of the blue tit. 



MIMICRY OF THE REED-BUNTING 



I have heard reed-buntings reproduce the tell of 

 the house-sparrow or the greenfinch, and the fink of 

 the chaffinch, also another cry of the brown linnet 

 and greenfinch. 



