186 HABITS OF BIRDS. 
stating, that, after investigating the subject with 
considerable attention for many years, we have 
come to the conclusion that the notes of birds which 
are denominated singing, may all be referred to hi- 
larity and joy, or to rivalry and defiance, rather than 
to imitation or to love, as has been maintained by 
some naturalists of celebrity. Mr. Pennant gives 
the following view of the matter: 
“It may be worthy,” he says, “of observation, 
that the female of no species of birds ever sings; 
with birds it is the reverse of what occurs in human 
kind: among the feathered tribe, all the cares of life 
fall to the lot of the tender sex: theirs is thé fatigue 
of incubation, and the principal share in nursing the 
helpless brood: to alleviate these fatigues, and to 
support her under them, nature hath given to the 
male the song, with all the little blandishments and 
soothing arts; these he fondly exerts (even after 
courtship), on some spray contiguous to the nest, 
during the time his mate is performing her parental 
duties. To these we may add a few particulars 
that fell within our notice during our inquiries among 
the birdcatchers, such as, that they immediately 
kill the hens of every species of birds they take, 
being incapable of singing.”* 
Buffon makes the qualified statement that “ the 
females are much more silent than the males, song 
being generally withheld from them ;” probably 
resting on the authority of Lord Bacon, who says 
“that male birds, among singing birds, are ever the 
better singers.” The latter again most likely fol- 
lowed Aristotle, who says, “some males sing like 
their females, as appears among nightingales, but 
the female gives over song when she hatches.” 
Daines Barrington, assuming it as a fact that females 
never sing, proceeds to divine the reason thereof, 
inferring it to be because it might betray their nest 
* Brit. Zool., ii., 335. 
