MIMICRY OF REED- BUNTING 223 



the close ; but sometimes this strain is supplemented 

 with variations, and even with imitations. On 

 26th February 1890, I approached to within three 

 feet of a goldcrest singing in a closely-cut hedge. 

 Sometimes it uttered the notes of the coal titmouse, 

 in other phrases those of the blue titmouse, and 

 short squeaks like those of these tits, also \hQ fink of 

 the chaffinch. On the 23rd of March following I 

 heard a goldcrest reproduce exactly the pirn ini 

 imimim of the blue tit, and it also sang a note of 

 the coal tit. 



Mimicry of the Whitethroats 



Both the whitethroat and lesser whitethroat often 

 mimic a little, but their imitations are not very 

 numerous nor distinct. 



Mimicry of the Nuthatch 



As already stated, I have heard the nuthatch 

 repeat exactly a characteristic note of the blue tit. 



Mimicry of the Reed-bunting 



I have heard reed-buntings reproduce the tell of 

 the house-sparrow or the greenfinch, and the fink of 

 the chaffinch, also another cry of the brown linnet 

 and greenfinch. 



