82



Dr. Arthur G. Butler,



they may be capable of something more, though I have not been

lucky enough to hear it, nor have I met with any record of such a

thing, and examples which I reared from the nest never made the

least attempt to sing. :;: Now, it has often been incorrectly asserted

that brightly-coloured birds are not gifted with song, but here we

have one of many proofs to the contrary; perhaps the most striking

one, however, is that of the gorgeously-coloured King Bird of

Paradise, of which Sir William Ingram writes Ibis,’ 1907, p. 227) :

“ Now he hursts out into his beautiful melodious warbling song, so

enchanting to hear, hut so difficult to describe.”


Often repeated misstatements are not readily accepted as such,

though their fallacy may be frequently pointed out; it is just as

absurd to take it for granted, because the Nightingale is a prince of

songsters and of modest colouring, that only dull-coloured birds are

similarly gifted, as to assume that only the least attractive flowers

have sweet scents ; and is as foolish as the frequently uttered asser¬

tion that there are no singing birds in Australia. Let those who make

this statement repeat that to their ornithological cousin the Lyre¬

bird.


Well, all this has taken us away from the Swallows, but

it may possibly have its use in opening blind eyes and deaf ears;

listen to the Blackbird and compare its splendid song with the

somewhat tiresome though cheerful repetitions of the far less showy

Song-Thrush ; just ask yourself whether he is not in all respects,

both of colour and form, a far more beautiful bird, as well as an

infinitely superior performer; but one could multiply instances of

brightly coloured musicians to almost any extent among foreign birds.


Swallows love warmth, and therefore, like sensible creatures,

they leave us at the approach of winter. In exceptionally warm

winters they may sometimes be seen quite late in the year, but it may

be that only a late brood thus ventures. As a rule, the end of

September or October sees their departure to a more genial climate;

I will revert to this point later on. Hand-reared birds delight

to nestle down in' one’s hand, and do not object to being stroked.

They are affectionate, and would make ideal pets if one could assure


* [House-Martins have a distinct song, but not so melodious or so prolonged as

the Swallow’s.—E d.]



