BIRDS OF THE WAVE AND WOODLAND 35 



aggressive or inclined to assert himself, "just to let Africa 

 know " as it were, he opens upon the world with the artillery 

 of his voice. Is that the lion's way of " singing" ? and is the 

 blackbird's song its way of " roaring" ? 



To take a more familiar case, it is only when the 

 animal is in the presence of his own sex, and his intentions 

 are the reverse of friendly, that the human understanding 

 arrives at the vocal compass of domestic tom-cats. They 

 then sing melancholy part-songs, out of all time and tune : we 

 call them " cats' concerts." But if you will listen to them, 

 and not disturb them either by laughter or missiles (as your 

 humour may take you), you will observe that each cat is 

 " singing " its very best. Very often no scrimmage results 

 after the music is over, but each cat, satisfied with its exhibi- 

 tion of its upper register, goes its way. If, while listening, 

 you can also see the cats while they are singing, you can 

 have no more doubt as to their own opinion of their perform- 

 ances than when watching a blackbird. Female cats cannot 

 sing. That fine voice is an ornament of the male sex alone, 

 and whenever one male meets another — none of the other sex 

 being present — they at once (if sudden conflict, giving no 

 time for a "glee," does not supervene) fall to singing, each 

 pitting his " g " against the other's. You may any day see 

 two such encounterers, having sung their songs, relapse into 

 placid indifference to each other's presence, just as blackbirds 

 do, and depart harmlessly each about his own duties. 



