NATURAL BISTORT. 305 



" The gay troops begin 



In gallant thought to plume the painted wing, 

 And try again the long forgotten strain, 

 At first faint warbled." THOMSON. 



members of each species might make knoirn their wants and 

 dangers, and otherwise communicate with each other. 



That some of the notes of birds are a language designed to convey 

 a meaning is obvious from the very different sound uttered by these 

 creatures at particular periods ; the spring voices become changed 

 as summer advances, and the requirements of the early season 

 have ceased : the summer excitements and informations are not 

 needed in autumn, and the notes conveying such intelligence are 

 no longer heard. 



The periodical calls of animals, the croaking of frogs, &c., afford 

 the same reason for concluding that the sound of their voices by 

 elevation, depression, or modulation, convey intelligence adapted to 

 their wants and feelings. 



975. Rennie relates " We recollect having our attention once drawn to the loud 

 scolding of a pair of chaffinches in a copse, a circumstance of very frequent 

 occurrence during summer, but rendered peculiar in the instance in question by the 

 birds darting down almost to the roots of the bushes at some distance from where 

 we stood, from which we concluded their scolding was not directed to us. The 

 loud "pink, pink" of the chaffinches soon attracted to the spot a crowd of their 

 woodland neighbours, among whom a redbreast took the lead, followed by a green- 

 bird, a song-thrush, and about a dozen of the smaller summer birds, all brought 

 together by curiosity to learn what the chaffinches were scolding about. From all 

 of these clamorous creatures giving vent to the same expression of feeling, we con- 

 cluded that some common enemy had made his appearance am mg them ; and, 

 upon looking narrowly into the bushes, we perceived a pine-martin stealing along, 

 occasionally throwing a sly, or rather contemptuous look at his vociferous railers, 

 but other wise continuing a careful prying search into every hole and bush for a nest 

 of eggs or young of which he might make a breakfast." 



White, of Selbome, remarks : " When the hen turkey leads forth her young 

 brood, she keeps a watchful eye, ind, if a bird of prey appear, though ever so high 

 in the air, the careful mother announces the enemy with a little inward moan, and 

 watches him with a steady and attentive look ; but, if he approach, her note 

 becomes earnest and alarming, and her outcries are redoubled." In the instance of 

 a cock bird expressing fear, or giving an alarm to the hen of the approach of danger 

 near the nest, the tones seem to be varied so as to give her due notice either to keep 

 close and still, or to make her escape with as much caution as she can." 



976. Why is the plumage of female birch generally more 

 sombre tJian tJtat of males? 



This would sc.'in to be a provision iu:;de by providence to favour 



