LANGUAGE. . 249 



that we have ever observed; for instead of flying or 

 hiding 1 from danger, the alarm-call seems to em- 

 bolden even the most timid to run every hazard; and 

 accordingly, it is matter of common observation that 

 whenever a hawk makes his appearance, the first 

 swallow which descries him, sounds the tocsin, when 

 not only all the swallows in the vicinity muster their 

 forces, but many other small birds hurry to the spot, 

 and so far from sculking away out of danger, they 

 boldly face their powerful foe, attacking him fear- 

 lessly with beak and wing, till some individual pays 

 the penalty of his temerity. With this exception we 

 can bear testimony to the description of Mr. Knapp 

 being minutely correct. " Some," he adds, " give 

 the maternal hush to their young, and mount to in- 

 quire into the jeopardy announced. The wren, that 

 tells of perils from the hedge, soon collects about her 

 all the various inquisitive species within hearing to 

 survey and ascertain the object and add their sepa- 

 rate fears. The swallow, that shrieking darts in de- 

 vious flight through the air when a hawk appears, not 

 only calls up all the hirundines of the village, but is 

 instantly understood by every finch and sparrow, 

 and its warning attended to *." 



Dr. Darwin, in his usual ingenious but fanciful 

 manner, endeavours to show that this language of 

 fear and alarm is (like other sounds usually con- 

 sidered natural) acquired and conventional like human 

 speech. His facts will amuse the reader, while 'his in- 

 ferences must appear quite hypothetical and strained. 

 " All other animals," he says, "as well as man, are 

 possessed of the natural language of the passions, 

 expressed in signs or tones; and we shall endeavour 

 to evince, that those animals which have preserved 

 themselves from being enslaved by mankind, and 

 are associated in flocks, are also possessed of some 

 * Journ. of a Naturalist, p. 268, third edit. 



