2l8 



EVOLUTION OF BIRD- SONG 



Mimicry of the Redstart 



The following is a summary of the principal 

 songs of five redstarts heard near Stroud, in April 

 and May 1888 : — 



Mimicry of the Nightingale 



In stating that the nightingale had only twenty- 

 four strains, Bechstein recorded his own lack of ob- 

 servation. We can no more define the limits of its 

 song than those of the voice of a thrush or redstart. 

 I remember one which sang so like a whitethroat that 



