1 64 E VOL UTION OF BIRD- SONG 



as well as the tones of the human voice. The 

 necessities of their lives in a feral condition may 

 prevent them from exercising this power to its full 

 extent. This idea is supported by the behaviour of 

 the crows at Vancouver city, B.C., where these birds 

 are accorded a judicious protection, and may be seen 

 fearlessly promenading all the open spaces. Professor 

 Hill-Tout, Principal of Buckland College, Vancouver, 

 has kindly written for me the following note on these 

 birds : — 



" I would call these birds strong imitators of 

 sounds in their wild state, and am inclined to think 

 that they would equal the parrot in captivity if 

 carefully taught. I have frequently heard them 

 imitate the barking of a dog, and, less often, the 

 sounds one hears in a fowl-yard. On one occasion, 

 when in the country with a friend, I was surprised to 

 hear, from a bush close by, sounds that strongly 

 resembled human cries. We were for a time under 

 the impression that the sounds came from an Indian 

 camp, and we were much interested to find that they 

 proceeded from a crow in a tree." 



Bechstein mentioned incidentally that the nut- 

 cracker {N2icifraga caryocatactcs) can imitate the 

 notes, but not the songs, of other birds {pp. cit. p. 32). 

 The jay is more imitative : at intervals it will intro- 



