260 HABITS OF BIRDS. 



CHAPTER XV. 



SONGS OF BIRDS. 



THE songs of birds have given rise to several 

 curious inquiries of no small interest to naturalists, 

 some of which it may prove both amusing and in- 

 structive to detail. We may, however, begin by 

 stating, that, after investigating the subject with con- 

 siderable attention for many years, we have come to 

 the conclusion that the notes of birds which are de- 

 nominated singing, may all be referred to hilarity 

 and joy, or to rivalry and defiance, rather than to 

 imitation or to love, as has been maintained by some 

 naturalists of celebrity. Mr. Pennant gives the fol- 

 lowing view of the matter: 



" It may be worthy,'* he says, " of observation, 

 that the female of no species of birds ever sings; 

 with birds it is the reverse of what occurs in human 

 kind : among the feathered tribe, all the cares of life 

 fall to the lot of the tender sex : theirs is the fatigue 

 of incubation ; and the principal share in nursing 

 the helpless brood : to alleviate these fatigues, and to 

 support her under them, nature hath given to the 

 male the song, with all the little blandishments and 

 soothing arts ; these he fondly exerts (even after 

 courtship) on some spray contiguous to the nest, 

 during the time his mate is performing her parental 

 duties. To these we may add a few particulars, 

 that fell within our notice during our inquiries among 

 the bird-catchers, such as, that thev immediately kill 



