272 HABITS OF BIRDS. 



wren, who never found another mate, continued his 

 song- from the month of May till the latter end of 

 August. On the contrary, another of the same 

 species, who took possession of a fir-tree in my 

 garden, ceased its notes as soon as the young were 

 hatched*/' 



To us, however, this explanation of the facts 

 appears too partial and contracted, the song of the 

 birds being more naturally accounted for, as we 

 think, from the state of their spirits than by the sup- 

 position of its having been meant as the language of 

 courtship ; and, accordingly, it does not consist with 

 our observation that the state of the weather has much 

 influence upon them, except in so far as it may affect 

 their supply of food ; and hence it is that caged birds 

 remain much longer in song than if they were at 

 large in the fields. We have further remarked, and 

 it agrees with the experience of Mr. Sweet and others 

 who keep tame birds, that the male will sing better, 

 and for a longer period, when there is a female of 

 his own species in the same cage than when he is 

 alone t; whereas, according to Colonel Montagu's 

 explanation of his experiments, namely, that the 

 song is uttered chiefly to attract the female to the 

 vicinity, this circumstance ought not to take place. 



The theory in question has been opposed by 

 another which maintains the peculiar notes of various 

 song-birds to be derived from imitation. The Hon. 

 Daines Barringtori tried a number of experiments for 

 the purpose of supporting this latter notion, which it 

 may prove interesting to give in his own words : 



" I have educated nestling linnets," says he, 

 " under the three best singing larks, the skylark, 

 woodlark, and titlark, every one of which, instead o* 



* Ornith. Diet. Intr. first ed. j p. 477, second ed. 

 t J. R. 



