THE LOVE DISPLAYS OF BIRDS 219 



of direct evidence to support it. Every bird- 

 fancier knows full well how readily young birds 

 acquire a song totally unlike that of their species. 

 Many facts might be brought forward to prove 

 that the songs of birds are acquired by Imitation, 

 and that if young birds never have an oppor- 

 tunity of hearing the song peculiar to their species 

 they are totally unable to produce it. A bird's 

 song, then, is just as much an acquired faculty 

 as the acquisition of a language by a child. 



As we previously remarked, one of the most 

 noteworthy characteristics of avine song is its 

 extraordinary variability, not as applicable to the 

 music itself (although the songs of some birds 

 are infinitely varied), but with regard to the 

 extent or degree of perfection which it has 

 reached in the various species. We find every 

 gradation of song, from the few harsh grating 

 notes of some of the Buntings, or the simple 

 trills of various Tits, for instance, to the finished 

 and gloriously beautiful performances of certain 

 of the Thrushes and Warblers. Amongst these 

 singing Passeres then there are birds of which 

 their vocal utterances are of the highest order — 

 producers of that wonderful melody of voice 

 that appeals with equal force and favour, if 

 only coincidentally, to the most cultivated and 



