ic8 JOTTINGS ABOUT BIRDS. 



have become modified through certain females 

 showing preference for certain males which dis- 

 played any variation of colour that might charm or 

 attract them." 



The standard of perfection or excellence in the 

 songs of birds is by no means a uniform or con- 

 stant one. This is especially remarkable at the 

 period when a species resumes its voice after a 

 long interval of silence, and in the maiden efforts 

 of young individuals. Any moderately observant 

 person may remark innumerable instances of this 

 peculiarity in every singing species. Looking 

 through my note-books, I find many observations 

 recorded, all showing that when the song is regained 

 it is frequently far from perfect. For days the 

 singers seem unable to utter the song complete. 

 In the case of the Chaffinch and the Yellow Bunting, 

 for instance, I have repeatedly remarked that the 

 final notes of the song have been omitted to the 

 extent of ninety per cent.! In many cases for a few 

 days nothing but a series of disconnected twitterings 

 have been uttered by some species, as though the 

 birds were trying to recall their long-lost song. I 

 have remarked the same thing in a Mule Canary 

 after his moult. Many young birds are very in- 

 different songsters, the art having apparently to be 



