SINGING IN CHORUS 83 



so-called ventriloquial powers of some kinds of 

 birds ; and it is possible that the lower animals 

 might make the same mistake. 



16. Singing in chorus. — Observers have recorded 

 the simultaneous singing of many birds of the same 

 species when associated in a flock — an incident by 

 no means limited to one kind of birds. Wilson 

 relates that this habit has been noticed in the 

 following American birds : the rice troupial {D. 

 oryzivoriis), the red-winged starling, and the gold- 

 finch (/^ tristis). It may be observed in the 

 common British starling and linnet. The screaming 

 of the adult swift {Cypselus apus) is occasionally 

 uttered in chorus, not more than once or twice by 

 a solitary swift, and sometimes continuously by a 

 number flying together. I have seen seven male 

 swallows singing together perched on telegraph 

 wires. 



The starling appears to sing in chorus un- 

 intentionally, from the mere fact of several singers 

 being together, but on two occasions I have known 

 several starlings join in concluding a certain musical 

 phrase commenced by one of their number — a 

 performance which was repeated so many times 

 consecutively as to be remarkable. Directly one of 

 them began the phrase with the following notes : — 



