THE CALL- NOTE 



45 



make frequent use of their call - notes ; for, as the 

 assembly moved about in the search for food, some 

 of them would often be left behind, when they would 

 call to the others, and be answered, at least by the 

 parents. Most birds which rear large broods are 

 noisy when with their young ; thus the titmice, 

 goldcrest, brown wren, starling, finches, and others 

 make abundant use of their calls towards their 

 broods ; and those of them which continue the 

 association throughout the summer likewise retain 

 this vocal habit. In fact, among birds, as in man, 

 language is very closely related to the social instinct, 

 notwithstanding that its development, among certain 

 gregarious species, seems to be so much retarded by 

 fear. 



Various emotions have predominated in different 

 species, to the exclusion of sociability or of garrulity. 

 The lack of variety in the voices of the larger birds 

 may be accounted for on the supposition that fear, 

 unless acute, induces silence, and that these larger 



o 



species, ever seeking concealment from enemies, 

 could not without incurring grave danger make 

 frequent and loud noises. Of course, in the breeding 

 season, the emotion of fear is frequently overcome 

 by that of love, and then birds often expose them- 

 selves to danger while singing. The most marked 



