MIMICRY OF THRUSH 203 



that birds can imitate all sounds with equal ease ; 

 on the contrary, their voices are often quite unsuited 

 for the mimicry attempted. The cry of the crow 

 (a common bird near Stroud) affords an example. 

 I have a note that on 21st March 1890 I heard 

 many thrushes imitate the crow, at Sans' Wood, 

 where it abounds. On the 14th March I heard a 

 thrush in my garden exactly reproduce a cry which 

 I had heard on the previous night repeatedly and 

 loudly uttered by some strange bird flying overhead. 

 I never again heard this note, which was a remark- 

 able one. In the same month I heard a thrush 

 imitate the crow of a bantam exactly. Another 

 exactly reproduced the clucking of a hen for her 

 chickens. Both birds were close to farm-buildings 

 where scores of fowls are kept. The clucking of 

 a hen I have also heard exactly reproduced by 

 a thrush at Brimscombe ; this was in June. The 

 following is an example of my records. A 

 phrase without recognisable mimicry is indicated by 

 an " O." 



" Frocester, Glos., near the church, 1 7th May 

 1892. — Thrush singing: — golden plover — golden 

 plover, O — crow — corn-crake — be quick, O, O — 

 wood-warbler's sibilous notes — cuckoo (in rough 

 tones), O — young starling's cry after leaving nest, O — 



