IMITATION AND MIMICRY. 199 



sufficiently conclusive against the theory that there 

 are none or only inferior song-birds in the forests 

 of America. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



IMITATION AND MIMICRY OF BIRDS. 



" MIMICRY," says Lord Chesterfield, " which is 

 the common and favourite amusement of little, low 

 minds, is in the utmost contempt with great ones. 

 It is the lowest and most illiberal of all buffoonery; 

 we should neither practice it nor applaud it in 

 others."* Yet, in despite of his lordship's authority, 

 mimicry and imitation are and will be practised, and 

 relished and applauded so long as men continue to 

 receive pleasure from exercising their minds in ma- 

 king comparisons ; for this exercise is always pleas- 

 ing in proportion to the activity of mind, or the flow 

 of associated ideas thereby produced, perhaps the 

 true origin, indeed, of all our mental pleasures. 



All this may be true so far as it goes ; but the 



Eleasure of making comparisons is only a particu- 

 ir instance of the pleasure we have in perceiving 

 similitude in dissimilitude, or sameness combined 

 with variety ; and this is the true principle of the 

 phenomenon under consideration. 



If we hear a parrot utter an imitation of the 

 words " Pretty Poll," we immediately trace a se- 

 ries of resemblances or differences between the 

 pronunciation of the words by the parrot and by a 

 man ; and if the bird comes near the sound, we are 

 pleased in tracing the resemblance, while we admire 



* Letters, vol. ii. 



