XXIV INTRODUCTION. 



more than three miles, and is at least four times as powerful as 

 the voice of men and quadrupeds. 



Sweetness of voice and melody of song are qualities which in 

 birds are partly natural and partly acquired. The facility with 

 which they catch and repeat sounds, enables thera not only to 

 borrow from each other, but often even to copy the more diffi- 

 cult inflections and tones of the human voice, as well as of 

 musical instruments. It is remarkable that in the tropical 

 regions, where the birds are arrayed in the most glowing 

 colors, their voices are hoarse, grating, singular, or terrific. 

 Our sylvan Orpheus (the Mocking-bird), the Brown Thrush, 

 the Warbling Flycatcher, as well as the Linnet, the Thrush, 

 the Blackbird, and the Nightingale of Europe, pre-eminent for 

 song, are all of the plainest colors and weakest tints. 



The natural tones of birds, setting aside those derived from 

 education, express the various modifications of their wants and 

 passions ; they change even according to different times and 

 circumstances. The females are much more silent than the 

 males ; they have cries of pain or fear, murmurs of inquietude 

 or solicitude, especially for their young ; but of song they are 

 generally deprived. The song of the male is inspired by ten- 

 der emotion, he chants his affectionate lay with a sonorous 

 voice, and the female replies in feeble accents. The Nightin- 

 gale, when he first arrives in the spring, without his mate, is 

 silent ; he begins his lay in low, faltering, and unfrequent airs ; 

 and it is not until his consort sits on her eggs that his en- 

 chanting melody is complete : he then tries to relieve and 

 amuse her tedious hours of incubation, and warbles more 

 pathetically and variably his amorous and soothing lay. In a 

 state of nature this propensity for song only continues through 

 the breeding season, for after that period it either entirely 

 ceases, becomes enfeebled, or loses its sweetness. 



Conjugal fidelity and parental affection are among the most 

 conspicuous traits of the feathered tribes. The pair unite their 

 labors in preparing for the accommodation of their expected 

 progeny ; and during the time of incubation their participa- 

 tion of the same cares and solicitudes continually augments 



