253 
In the same circumstances, the robin utters a note differing 
from this one only in lack of force, and perhaps also in its higher 
pitch. The rattling alarm of the robin is uttered on precisely 
the same occasions as that of the blackbird, but is less often 
uttered during flight. In both birds it is often accompanied by 
a flirt of the tail. The common ecall-note of the robin is a 
short, somewhat plaintive squeak, never rapidly repeated ; and 
this sound is continually employed towards the young. The 
common flycatcher employs towards its young a squeak so 
similar that I have often been unable to identify it, when both 
species with their young were in close proximity. The fly- 
catcher also employs towards its young a short, sharp “ chick,” 
_ closely like the “chick,” often doubled to “chick ick,” which 
is used by the redstart to its young. 
The last species prefixes the cry with a little whistle, 
which may be written “tewy,” (Ex. 5). This whistle is an 
alarm of the whitethroat; it is the alarm of the chiffchaff and 
willow warbler, and is likewise the call-note of the last two; 
it is uttered in the songs of the nightingale, redstart, blackcap, 
_ whitethroat, and sedgewarbler. 
. The nightingale sometimes elaborates his well-known long 
notes from a repetition of this ery. (A representation was 
_ given, and Mr John Bellows immediately confirmed the state- 
_ ment, he having observed the same incident. See Ex. 6). 
Rennie remarks, “ We have ourselves, in many instances, 
observed what might be not inappropriately called a different 
dialect among the same species of song birds in different 
counties, and even in places a few miles distant from each 
other. This difference is more readily remarked in the 
-ehaffinch, dunnock, and yellow hammer, than in the more 
melodious species.” (Edin. Mag., Jan., 1819). 
I have observed local differences in the songs of the 
starlings, chaffinches, and dunnocks or accentors. 
Numerous authors record occasional variations in the notes 
of birds ; these are a few species mentioned: the nightingale, 
by Barrington and Bechstein, N. H. Bds., 214 and 219; Robin, 
by C. F. Archibald, of Rusland Hall, Ulverston, letter to me; 
