40 EVOLUTION OF BIRD- SONG 



clusively the effect of rivalry and emulation, and not 

 for the sake of charming their mates '' (Descent of 

 Man, p. 369). "Males of song-birds and of many 

 others do not in general search for the female ; but, on 

 the contrary, their business in the spring is to perch 

 on some conspicuous spot, breathing out their full 

 and amorous notes, which by instinct the female 

 knows, and repairs to the spot, to choose her mate 

 (Montague, Orn. Diet., ed. 1833, p. 475). Mr. 

 Jenner H. Weir informs me that this is certainly 

 the case with the nightingale " (Descent of Man, p. 

 368). This seems to be borne out by a later 

 observation. " Bechstein, who kept birds during his 

 whole life, asserts 'that the female canary always 

 chooses the best singer, and that in a state of nature 

 the female finch selects that male out of a hundred 

 whose notes please her most' (Naturgeschichte der 

 Stubenvogel, 1840)." It would seem that Bechstein, 

 in making this assertion, was assuming a familiarity 

 with the feelings of wild birds very difficult to 

 acquire ; for how can an observer be sure that 

 such a preference is not due to colour or move- 

 ment, instead of to song ? But probably before there 

 was a call-song there were heard varieties of call- 

 notes ; and this subject will be discussed in the 

 next chapter. 



