2 1 8 E VOL UTION OF BIRD-SONG 



MIMICRY OF THE REDSTART 



The following is a summary of the principal 

 songs of five redstarts heard near Stroud, in April 

 and May 1888 : 



Subject imitated. Redstarts. . Total 



instances. 



Brown Wren's song 2 10 



call 2 2 



Willow-warbler ..... 3 5 



Whitethroat ..... . . 3 4 



Tree-pipit ,. ... . , .2 7 



Blackbird's alarm ..... 2 5 



Chiffchaff ...... 2 5 



Thrush . . . . . .2 5 



Nuthatch ...... 2 4 



Coal Titmouse 2 4 



Chaffinch ..... . . .2 4 



Nightingale . . ... . .2 4 



House-sparrow 2 3 



Greenfinch . . .3 4 



Sedge-warbler .2 3 



Swallow .,.-.... 2 2 



MIMICRY OF THE NIGHTINGALE 



In stating that the nightingale had only twenty- 

 four strains, Bechstein recorded his own lack of ob- 

 servation. We can no more define the limits of its 

 song than those of the voice of a thrush or redstart. 

 I remember one which sang so like a whitethroat that 



