90 THE HUMAN SIDE OF BIRDS 



beautiful sounds and notes to weave into their pro- 

 ductions. This is most easily observed in caged 

 birds, for a young canary raised near a mocking- 

 bird will have many notes uncommon among his 

 tribe. 



This fact has been turned to advantage by bird- 

 fanciers the world over, and young birds are given 

 especial advantages in order to improve their musi- 

 cal ear and technique. The finest singers are pro- 

 cured, and these are kept near the young birds. As 

 the latter develop their own voices they try to join 

 in the melody of their teachers, and after long ef- 

 fort succeed in learning their methods and execu- 

 tion, and often acquire a certain similarity in qual- 

 ity of tone. In this way the musical standard of 

 caged birds is being steadily improved. It is noth- 

 ing more than a system of music schools and in- 

 struction, made possible by the native talent of the 

 bird mind. 



In the wild wood every bird has a certain amount 

 of instruction given him by his parents, and his 

 early environment completes his musical education. 

 Like a musician in the human world, he learns all 

 his teachers can give him, and then goes forth to 

 add to his skill by practice and observation of 

 others. 



There is no doubt that scenery has an effect upon 



