EVOLUTION OF BIRD- SONG 



was watching the characteristic flight, if not listening 

 to the notes, of our own favourite at home" (pp. cit. 

 vol. iv. p. 509). The Abyssinian larks were said by 

 Bruce to sing like those of Europe (Dom. Hab, 

 Birds, p. 300). The South African lark (Mirafra 

 ncevia) sings in the air as well as on a tree (Layard, 

 op. cit. p. 525). The Latakoo lark (M. cheniand] 

 " somewhat resembles in its habits the English 

 skylark, rising in the air early in the morning, with 

 the same fluttering flight, and singing all the time " 

 (ibid. p. 529). Thus we find American, European, 

 and African larks agreeing in their manner of 

 singing. 



The buntings (Emberizidce} appear to be allied to 

 the pipits by their notes, in some species by the pos- 

 session of a rather long hind-claw, and other features. 

 The call-note of the young yellow bunting, and that 

 of the young and the adult cirl-bunting, are not un- 

 like the call-squeak of the tree-pipit. Yarrell quotes 

 the late Mr. Proctor of Durham in relation to the 

 snow-bunting as follows : " I have often seen him, 

 when coming from the nest, rise up in the air and 

 sing sweetly, with wings and tail spread, like a tree- 

 pipit " (pp. cit. ist ed. vol. i. p. 432). In the cirl- 

 bunting the call-note of the young is uttered by 

 adults in the breeding season ; and this bird some- 



