UESriKVTIOX OF niKDS. 23 



wliieh are represented entering the lungs (ll), and there is a piece of bone Ij'ing across, 

 surmounted \ntli a crescent-shaped membrane (m) . On each side and below this piece of 

 bone — at the origin of each bronchial tulio — is an opening, the two lips of which are real, 

 vocal chords. The first arch of the bronchial tubes is sej)arated by a membrane from the 

 last little bone which terminates the trachea. It is in this double drimi, called the lower 

 larynx, that the voice of bii'ds is formed, by means of the complicated play of the numerous 

 muscles which stretch or relax the vocal chords and the membranes of this wonderful 

 apjiaratus. It may be easily imderstood that the enormous volume of air, contained in 

 the whole body of the bird, powerfully contributes to the strengtli and range of the voice. 

 On the return of sj^riug, — 



" Every eopse 

 Deep tangled, tree irregular, and bush 

 Bending ^vith dewy moistiu'e o'er the heads 

 Of the coy quii-istcrs that lodge witliiu, 

 Are prodigal of harmony." 



"In the nightingale and thrush," says ^laccidloch, " we distinguish a great number of 

 sounds and articulations, because they belong or approach to that musical scale for which 

 our sense of hearing is adapted. But we cannot donbt that, in these, and still more in 

 birds whose tones are less musical and definite, there are sounds which we do not truly 

 distinguish, and which we therefore neglect in favour of those to which we are more 

 sensible. And there is no difficidty in believing that the song of a" nightingale is better 

 understood by itself than by us, or that it contains much more than we hear. If I were 

 to suggest that it contains a definite set of phrases, with meaning to the animal itself and 

 its kind, there woidd be nothing absurd in the proposition, since it possesses, even to our 

 ears, a greater variety of articulation than we can find in any himian language with 

 which we are acquainted ; while, in confirmation of this general view, aU who have 

 attended to ■such subjects must know, that where these birds aboimd, long debates are 

 often carried on among them, in tones and articulations quite distinct from the ordinary 

 songs. When we decide otherwise, we are deciding from a prejudice, or assuming that 

 it is not a language, because we do not imderstand it. Vt^e shotild be equally justified in 

 thus deciding as to the Arabic." 



No wonder that our rustic poet Clare should say, — 



'■ I've often tried, when tending sheep or cow, 

 With bits of grass and peels of oaten straw. 

 To whistle like the birds. The thrush would start 

 To hear her song of jjraise and fly away ; 

 The blackbird never cared, but sang again ; 

 The nightingale's piu'e song I could not try, 

 And when the thi'ush would mock her song, she paused, 

 And sang another song no bird coidd do. 

 She sang when all were done, and beat them all." 



For the melodies of the grove and the woodland, a sjjecial pro^^sion has been made 

 in the organisation. The windpipe of birds is, in fact, very different in structure 

 from that of other animals, and in song-birds it is peculiarly and admirably adapted 

 to that sweet and varied music which affords us so much pleasure. Indeed, the whole 

 extent of the ivindpijie in such birds may be considered as one vocal apparatus ; 

 the upper piirt being divided into two sections, or rather into two distinct organs. That 

 which is more complicated, or in which the parts arc more numerous and elaborate, is 

 placed at the lower end of the windpipe, at the i^lace where it divides, in order to be 

 distributed through the lungs. The more simple, or that in which the parts are fewei-. 



