APPENDIX. 703 



We have one mocking bird in England, which 

 is the fkylark ; as, contrary to a general obferva- 

 tion I have before made, this bird will catch the note 

 of any other which hangs near it ; even after the 

 fkylark note \s fixed. For this reafon, the bird-fan- 

 ciers often place the fkylark next one which hath 

 not been long caught, in order, as they term it, 

 to keep the caged fkylark honeft. 



The queftion, indeed, may be afked, why the 

 .wild fkylark, with thefe powers of imitation, ever 

 adheres to the parental notes ; but it mud be recol- 

 lected, that a bird when at liberty is for ever 

 fhifting its place, and confequently does not hear 

 the fame notes eternally repeated, as when it hangs 

 in a cage near another. In a wild frate therefore 

 the fkylark adheres to the parental notes ; becaufe 

 the parent cock attends the young ones, and is heard 

 by them for fo confiderable a time, during which, 

 they pay no regard to the long of any other bird. 



I am aware alfo, that it may be afked, how 

 birds originajly came by the notes which are pecu- 

 liar to each fpecies. My anfwer, however, to this 

 is, that the origin of the notes of birds, together 

 with its gradual progrefs, is as difficult to be traced, 

 as that of the different languages in nations. 



The lofs of the parent-cock at the critical time 

 for inftruction hath undoubtedly produced thofe 

 varieties, which I have before obferved are in the 

 fong of each fpecies ; becaufe then the nettling hath 

 either attended to the fong of fome other birds ; 



or 



