HEREDITY 



heard faintly sung in September, or later are 

 much alike, and seem to be aimless repetitions of 

 whistled tones and slurs. However, traces of mimicry 

 are soon observable. Wilson observes (pp. tit. vol. i. 

 p. 234) that the notes of the American ferruginous 

 thrush (T. rufus} "have considerable resemblance 

 to those of the song-thrush of Britain." Mr. Hudson 

 tells us that the whistle of the Argentine blackbird 

 is sometimes mistaken by Englishmen for that of 

 the similar home bird (Idle Days in Patagonia, p. 

 155). Gould observed that the Australian little 

 shrike-thrush (Colhiricincla parvula), which may be 

 said to be one of a class intermediate between the 

 thrushes and the shrikes, has " a fine thrush-like tone, 

 very clear, loud, and melodious " (Handbook to Birds 

 of Australia, p. 225). The same authority remarks 

 (op. cit. p. 279) that the song and call-note of the 

 Australian scarlet-breasted robin (Petroica multicolor, 

 Gould) " much resemble those of the European 

 robin, but are more feeble and uttered with a more 

 inward tone." He also states (ibid. p. 281) that 

 " the red-capped robin (P. goodenovii, Gould) has a 

 peculiarly sweet and plaintive song, very much like 

 that of the European robin, but weak and not so 

 continuous." Dr. Saxby heard wheatears which were 

 excellent mimics (Birds of Shetland, p. 68). Sweet 



