CHAPTER VII 



THE INFLUENCE OF HEREDITY IN 

 THE PERPETUATION OF THE CRIES OF BIRDS 



IT is clear that birds inherit the desire and power 

 to sing, and style of song, and that some definite 

 cries are perpetuated solely by the same agency. 

 The young of the common fowl, turkey, pheasant, 

 partridge, duck, and goose (at least) inherit their 

 cries ; and, whether reared naturally or artificially, 

 are equally willing and able to employ them upon 

 the appropriate occasions. But, so far as regards 

 common chickens, this observation is not in accord 

 with the opinion of Professor Hill-Tout (Principal 

 of Buckland College, Vancouver), who writes to me 

 as follows : 



" I have noticed that chicks reared by hand 

 present many interesting differences from your point 

 of view from those bred entirely by a hen. With 

 the mother, they show signs of fear of human beings 



