2 1 8 E VOL UTION OF BIRD-SONG 



MIMICRY OF THE REDSTART 



The following is a summary of the principal 



songs of five redstarts heard near Stroud, in April 

 and May 1888 : 



Subject imitated. Redstarts. Tota l 



instances. 



Brown Wren's song . . . . .2 10 



55 ,5 call .... 2 2 



Willow-warbler ..... 3 5 



Whitethroat ...... 3 4 



Tree-pipit 2 7 



Blackbird's alarm ..... 2 5 



Chiffchaff ...... 2 5 



Thrush 2 5 



Nuthatch 2 4 



Coal Titmouse ...... 2 4 



Chaffinch . . . . . .2 4 



Nightingale ...... 2 4 



House-sparrow ...... 2 3 



Greenfinch ...... 3 4 



Sedge-warbler ...... 2 3 



Swallow 2 2 



MIMICRY OF THE NIGHTINGALE 



In stating that the nightingale had only twenty- 

 four strains, Bechstein recorded his own lack of ob- 

 servation. We can no more define the limits of its 

 song than those of the voice of a thrush or redstart. 

 I remember one which sang so like a whitethroat that 



