214 



EVOLUTION OF BIRD-SONG 



the partridge with facility ; I have, however, often 

 seen them evidently exerting themselves in pro- 

 ducing the cry of another bird ; one in particular 

 seemed compelled to completely extend his wings 

 when imitating the cry of the peewit. 



Mimicry of the Sedge-warbler 



I have made records of the songs of about 

 fourteen sedge -warblers heard near Stroud. The 

 following were the principal imitations : — 



Subject imitated. 



House-sparrow's chissick 



tell tell . 

 Brown Wren's call 



„ song 

 Starling 

 Warblers' tewy 

 Swallow 

 Wagtails 

 Chaffinch Jink 

 „ twit 

 Blue Tit . 

 Butcher-bird 

 Martin 

 Corn-crake . 



Sedge- Times Exact 



warblers, reproduced, reproductions. 



II 



9 

 8 



2 

 II 



9 

 8 

 8 

 6 

 6 

 7 

 7 



> 



3 



34. 



36I 



23 

 19 

 39 



21 



2( 



9- 

 15 

 12 



15 



15 



9J 



29 



The imitations sung by the sedge -warbler are 

 generally remarkable for correctness ; but some of 



