ORGANS OF VOICE. 



59 



formed. It usually consists of a straight tube, of a stiff 

 horny character, sometimes of uniform diameter through- 

 out, at other times gradually swelling towards the middle, 

 or with roundish enlarged cavities, as in the tufted and 

 golden-eyed Ducks, though these enlargements are more 

 frequently at the end of the tube. The first of the an- 

 nexed figures represents the tube, the second the horny 

 cavity, and the third, twisted windpipe, is that of the 

 Crane, which is singularly bent, as it enters within the 

 breast bone ; the cleft end is the internal termination ; 

 the other its junction with the mouth. 



It would be needless to dwell upon the infinite variety 

 of notes of birds, but a few of the most striking deserve 

 notice. 



In this country 

 we find, indeed, 

 few peculiarities, 

 but nevertheless 

 there are some. 

 Thus, everybody 

 knows that Jack- 

 daws, Starlings, 

 and Magpies, may 

 be taught to speak 

 words, like Par- 

 rots; but near a 

 clergyman's house, 

 in Northampton- 

 shire, a blackbird 

 was in the habit of 



crowing constantly, as accurately as a common cock, and 

 nearly as loud. Perched upon the top bough of an 

 ash-tree, it might be seen crowing away; occasionally 

 indulging in its natural song, but this only for a second 

 or two ; for it soon began again to crow; and when the 

 cocks from a neighbouring poultry-yard answered it, 

 the little bird seemed delighted, and seemed as if it was 

 trying to rival them in the shrillness of its note. It was 



The Blackbird. 



