

SONGS. 275 



opposite to a small garden, whence the nestling had 

 undoubtedly acquired the notes of the wren, without 

 having any opportunity of learning even the call of 

 the goldfinch. 



" These facts which I have stated seem to prove, 

 very decisively, that birds have not any minute ideas 

 of the notes which are supposed to be peculiar to 

 each species. But it will possibly be asked, why, in 

 a wild state, they adhere so steadily to the same song, 

 insomuch that it is well known, before the bird is 

 heard, what notes you are to expect from him. 



" This, however, arises entirely from the nestling's 

 attending only to the instruction of the parent bird, 

 whilst it disregards the notes of all others which may 

 perhaps be singing round him. 



" Young canary birds are frequently reared in a 

 room where there are many other sorts, and yet I 

 have been informed that they only learn the song of 

 the parent cock. 



" Every one knows that the common house-spar- 

 row, when in a wild state, never does anything but 

 chirp ; this, however, does not arise from want of 

 powers in this bird to imitate others, but because he 

 only attends to the parental note. 



" But, to prove this decisively, I took a common 

 sparrow from the nest, when it was fledged, and 

 educated him under a linnet; the bird, however, by 

 accident, heard a goldfinch also ; and his song was, 

 therefore, a mixture of the linnet and goldfinch. 



" I have tried several experiments in order to 

 observe from what circumstances birds fix upon any 

 particular note when taken from the parents, but 

 cannot settle this with any sort of precision, any more 

 than at what period of their recording they determine 

 upon the song to which they will adhere. 



" x I educated a young robin under a very fine 

 nightingale, which, however, began already to be out 



