on bird song



309



at her lover. The strained and jumbled outpourings of a blackcap

will have no effect on his little brown-headed lady, until such a

moment, when his combined plumage and display, and excited vocal

efforts, reach to such a pitch as to waken a corresponding emotion in

her. Moreover I have on two occasions seen a cock and hen robin

wooing each other with precisely the same actions ; little bursts of

song accompanied by pretty wing movements, and this fact points to

the probability that song is not the sole possession of the cock bird,

but may on occasion be the expression of emotion on the part of the

hen-bird.


In view of these facts, it seems probable, that song is the

outcome of a highly developed nervous system, the result of abundant

vitality, that vitality being at its highest during the love season,

and it is at this time, that we may expect to find bird song at its best.

One must not, however, be too dogmatic on problems of wild life ; for

as we humans can take no actual part in the actual life of bird and

beast, our understanding of their ways must always be restricted.


We may conclude with a brief consideration of some interest¬

ing features of bird song as a whole. One of the most striking points

is the great difference in the degree of the development of song, some

species possessing a most specialised and exquisite song, while others

can only utter a few harsh, unmusical sounds. It often occurs that

of two species which are closely related such as the willow-wren, and

chiff-chaff, the one possesses a lovely little rippling song, and the

other only a simple though pleasing note. It is also extremely curious,

that as a general rule, small birds possess the monopoly of song, large

birds being restricted to more or less simple calls.*' At present there

seems to be no explanation of this phenomenon ; nature is jealous of

her secrets, and loth to give her reasons as to why she bestows in one

case the power of song, and in another the majesty of perfect flight.


As every lover of birds will agree, their songs are singularly

characteristic of themselves ; the blackbird’s lazy flute-like notes, the

chaffinch’s sprightly lay, and the garden warbler’s delicate song, are

all very typical of the performers, and these are only a few instances

among many. Perhaps the most interesting and curious singers, are

those which possess the gift of mimicking the song of other species.



The Lyre bird is a striking and curious exception,—ED,



