AN INTRODUCTION TO BIRD MUSIC. 
Probably a few birds do sing the three tones evenly but 
they are exceptions to the rule. 
Why each species should have developed and retained 
an established form of song it is not difficult to under- 
stand. The habits, associations, and environment of the 
bird have had much to do with the formation of his 
music, and education all the rest. By education I mean 
that gradual schooling of the imitative faculty, which, 
.-onscious or not, has resulted in the attainment of mu- 
sical tones at once pleasing to the ear. The bird sings 
first for love of music, and second ‘‘for the love of the 
lady.”” Advisedly I put the lady second, for, if he did 
not love music first he would not have sung to her, and 
birds, like the rest of us, are a trifle selfish. What we 
like most we think others will like as well, hence, in a 
moment of unselfishness we share the object of our 
selfishness! 
It is a fallacy to suppose that the music of the wild 
bird has been, or is, unprogressive; through thousands of 
years it has advanced to its present form, yet there is 
every evidence to-day that the progression has been 
nihil ad rem! The fact is, the bird has not arrived; 
there is still no point to his song! He makes a fine 
start, but he nearly always fails to finish on the tonic, or, 
for that matter, anywhere at all. This, however, does 
not signify a wantof progressiveness; it rather suggests 
a particular form of limitation. He has been imitating 
his father or his companion, faults and all, and he has 
not brain enough to understand that the far-reaching 
law of music demandsa finale. Through two, yes, three 
long seasons (long for him) he has been learning his song, 
imitating something he has heard, adding his own notes 
and touches of expression here and there, and settling 
upon a form which, in principle, will never change. 
His first impression is a lasting one, and he will never 
depart from it though he will make a marked, progres- 
sive improvement in his handling of the theme. 
Every bird sings his own song; no two sing exactly 
alike. A sharp and retentive ear for musical form can 
not fail to recognize those subtile differences of tone and 
expression which make the song of every singer unique. 
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