i8 OUR FAVOURITE SONG BIRDS 



ever, did not borrow any passage from the Linnet's 

 song, but adhered steadfastly to that of the Titlark." 

 Every bird-fancier knows how readily under suitable 

 conditions young birds will acquire a song totally 

 unlike the one characteristic of their species. Many 

 other similar facts might be brought forward to 

 prove that the songs of birds are acquired by imita- 

 tion, and that if young birds never hear the song 

 of their species they are totally unable to produce 

 it. A bird's song is just as much an acquired faculty 

 as the acquisition of a language by a child ; and 

 young birds, as Dr. Wallace pertinently remarks, 

 " must be taken out of hearing of their parents very 

 soon, for in the first three or four days they have 

 already acquired some knowledge of the parent 

 notes, which they will afterwards imitate." Having 

 said this much by way of introduction, we hope we 

 have indicated various directions in which the study 

 of Avine Song may be pursued with profit. There 

 are many ways in which the songs of birds are in- 

 structive, and their philosophy may be studied with 

 advantage whilst their varied strains are appealing 

 to our sense of enjoyment. Our favourite song 

 birds shall now be reviewed in proper sequence. 



