4 
Notes of Birds, 381 
twenty-one on from the time they were hatched, com- 
ils peculiar to their species. This was an im- 
birds, at least, are innate; and that, at this early age, ten 
days are not sufficient to enable nestlings to acquire even the 
calls of those under whieh they are bred; thus clearly es- 
tablishing the validity of the first experiment made with the 
young grosbeaks, Shortly after, the redbreast began to re- 
cord,t but in so low a tone, that it was scarcely possible to 
trace the radiments of its future song in these early attempts: 
as it gained strength and confidence, however, its native 
notes became very apparent, and they continued to improve 
m tone till the termination of July, when it commence 
moulting, which did not as was expected, put a stop to its re- 
eording. About the middle of August it was in a deep moult, 
and by the beginning of October had acquired most of its 
new feathers. It now began to execute its song in a manner 
calculated to remove every doubt as to its being that of the 
redbreast, had any such previously existed: its habits alse 
were as decidedly characteristic as its notes; and 1 am the 
moré particular in noticing this latter circumstance, because 
the peculiar ha 
as the origin of 
bits of birds are quite as difficult to account tor 
their songs.” — 
* A term defined by Mr. Barrington to be the first sound a young 
bird utters a8 acry for food. i : 
{The first endeavours of a young bird to sing are éalled recording: 
