BIRD LANGUAGE. 



BIRDS have not as much to say to each other as 

 men have. A bird's voice is used rather more 

 as we use a bell, to give important warnings and 

 announcements. The fire bell warns people of dan- 

 ger to property. The doorbell rings when some one 

 wishes to see a friend. The dinner-bell calls us to 

 our food. 



The parts of our speech that are most like the 

 birds' ordinary language are what we call exclama- 

 tions, — Look out! Hallo! Stop! Ho! As soon as 

 you begin to make sentences, you are telling each 

 other thoughts which are too difficult for birds to 

 understand. 



The common sounds which birds make can there- 

 fore be divided into two or three classes. They are 

 generally called call notes, alarm notes, and recog- 

 nition notes. The cock gives a call note when he 

 has found something to eat ; when the hens hear it, 

 they run to the spot. Alarm notes are given by the 

 hen when she wishes her chickens to hide under her 

 wing, or by any bird when he is suddenly startled. 



Recognition notes are used very largely by birds 

 who travel in companies, and are given and answered 



