244. 
pine-marten which they had discovered in some bushes. An 
adult female chaffinch, saved by me from starvation, uttered the 
same cry when I approached her cage. The bird was then 
much alarmed. Mr H. C. Playne informs me that the same 
ery is uttered when the bird is driven from its nest. 
Bechstein, (p. 2) alludes to “two or three species of 
shrike, which, from their surprising memory can imitate the 
songs of other birds, so as to be mistaken for them.” Yarrell, 
(1 Ed. 1 p. 151) repeats what may be termed the story that the 
butcher bird imitates the notes of other birds for the purpose 
of attracting the species upon which it preys. In contradiction 
to these remarks, J. R. in “ Domestic Habits of Birds,” p. 325, 
states, “‘we have now ascertained that the flusher (red-backed 
shrike) utters no call that has the most distant resemblance to 
that of any other bird.” I have heard it utter notes closely 
like some of those of the brown linnet and house-sparrow. It 
then appeared to be singing. 
Lastly, the Rev. F. O. Morris, in his “ British Birds,” 
(2nd Ed., Vol. III. p. 23) says of the starling: “Even in the 
wild state they have been known to endeavour to imitate the 
notes and cries of different birds and animals.” He does not 
say that he has observed this endeavour, hence we may conclude 
that either he had listened to no starlings, or was by no means 
familiar with the notes of common birds, which are always 
imitated by the wild starling. 
These inaccurate statements are quoted from standard 
works: they suggest very plainly that bird song, as I said, has 
received but slight recognition as a study by ornithologists, who 
have in this matter generalized from limited observations. 
It may be urged against the discussion of variations in 
bird-voice, that the human ear is not capable of detecting all 
the inflections which may actually occur; but against this 
plausible statement may be adduced the fact that sometimes 
the birds themselves are deceived, or at least attracted, by the 
imitations of their cries, which bird-catchers employ. It may, 
however, be replied that the birds do not necessarily mistake 
the imitation for the voice of their race, but for that of some 
bird which is secure and without fear; hence, in desirable 
