286 On the Singing of Birds. 



strains of the male bird, admirably calculated both to soothe 

 the female during her tedious period of incubation [IX. 206.], 

 and, at the same time, to dispel that ennui [weariness], which 

 we may suppose (though erroneously) the male in some de- 

 gree to feel during the period he is thus left alone, and which 

 strains are not used on any other occasion ? Does the song 

 of birds always exhibit to our dull ears the same particular 

 sounds ? I think, if we closely attend to the early song of the 

 robin, the thrush, or any other early singing birds, we shall 

 find these first joyful welcomings of returning spring to possess 

 very different intonations from those songs, or more melodious 

 warbles, used during the period of incubation. 



I speak from observation. 



The subject of my first notice is a pair of robins, observed 

 during the last week of the year 1829, and the early part of 

 1830. I listened very attentively to the very plaintive song 

 of a robin on several mild winter mornings : it was sweet, 

 and very melodious ; and followed by a response from another 

 in a neighbouring bush, not in the same strain : they might 

 proceed from a female, but in tones equally pathetic and plain- 

 tive. To this innocent and, to me, unintelligible dialogue I 

 have often listened for half an hour at a time ; during which 

 periods, I remarked that one bird never repeated, or rather 

 uttered, a new strain, till the response had been given by the 

 other. I continued to listen to this pair of robins till the 

 period of their preparing for their broods occupied their atten- 

 tion; when the strains became more lively, and much shortened. 

 I should, therefore, be inclined to consider those warblings as 

 songs of joy. 



My next subject of notice is a thrush (Turdus musicus), 

 which, for three successive years, took his stand on the top- 

 most twig of a fine chestnut tree, during the fine mornings in 

 the months of January and February ; and from that lofty 

 spray, when 



— ■ " Jocund Day 



Stood tiptoe on the misty mountain's top," 



would he pour out one of the sweetest and most plaintive 

 songs imaginable ; to which a response was given, equally 

 melodious and equally plaintive, by another, from the top of a 

 distant tree. This seemed to me to be a peculiar language, 

 adapted to the peculiar season of the year, and which I ob- 

 served to give place to more lively and more rapid strains as 

 the season of summer advanced: or could it be that I felt 

 my own spirits more exhilarated by the genial warmth of spring, 

 and more animated by the gaiety and activity of all nature, 

 as it were, in active motion around me, and, therefore, trans- 

 ferred the idea to the feathered vocalists ? 



