192 EVOLUTION OF BIRD-SONG 



Europe^ vol. iii. p. 72). Bechstein wrote [op. cit. 

 p. 254) that the redstart "can improve its song . . . 

 by adding to it parts of the songs of birds that are 

 found near it. For instance, those that build under 

 my roof imitated tolerably the chaffinch that hangs 

 in a cage at my window ; and a neighbour of mine 

 has in his garden one that repeats some strains of 

 a blackcap that has its nest near." He adds : " This 

 facility in appropriating the song of other birds is 

 heard in few birds that have their liberty, and seems 

 peculiar to this species." 



This last remark is most inapt. The observers 

 here mentioned noticed the mimicry of redstarts 

 in their gardens, presumably because they were 

 well acquainted with the notes reproduced ; but 

 Bechstein's remark that few other birds have this 

 power, indicates that he was better acquainted 

 with the notes of caged birds than with those of 

 wild ones. He accurately records that the redstart 

 adds the notes of other birds, for the imitations of 

 this species are uttered at the end of the ordinary 

 strain, to which they form a kind of sotto voce 

 suffix. 



Before going further, it will be as well to make 

 some observation on the difficulty of perceiving 

 imitations sung by wild birds. These imitations 



