VOICES OF BIRDS. 187 



separate voice assigned it, that each might continue as 

 created, distinct and unmixed : and the very few devia- 

 tions and admixtures that have taken place, considering 

 the lapse of time, association, and opportunity, united 

 with the prohibition of continuing accidental deviations, 

 are very remarkable, and indicate a cause and original 

 motive. That some of the notes of birds are as lan- 

 guage designed to convey a meaning, is obvious from 

 the very different sounds uttered by these creatures at 

 particular periods : the spring voices become changed 

 as summer advances, and the requirements of the early 

 season have ceased ; the summer excitements, moni- 

 tions, informations, are not needed in autumn, and the 

 notes conveying^such intelligences are no longer heard. 

 The periodical calls of animals, croaking of frogs, &c., 

 afford the same reasons for concluding that the sound 

 of their voices by elevation, depression, or modulation, 

 conveys intelligence equivalent to an uttered sentence. 

 The voices of birds seem applicable in most instances 

 to the immediate necessities of their condition ; such as 

 the sexual call, the invitation to unite when dispersed, 

 the moan of danger, the shriek of alarm, the notice of 

 food. But there are other notes, the designs arid mo- 

 tives of which are not so obvious. One sex only is 

 gifted with the power of singing, for the purpose, as 

 Buffbn supposed, of cheering his mate during the period 

 of incubation ; but this idea, gallant as it is, has such 

 slight foundation in probability, that it needs no confu- 

 tation : and after all, perhaps, we must conclude, that 

 listened to, admired, and pleasing, as the voices of many 

 birds are, either for their intrinsic melody, or from as- 

 sociation, we are uncertain what they express, or the 

 object of their song. The singing of most birds seems 

 entirely a spontaneous effusion produced by no exertion, 

 or occasioning no lassitude in muscle, or relaxation of 

 the parts of action. In certain seasons and weather, 

 the nightingale sings all day, and most part of the night ; 

 and we never observe that the powers of song are 

 weaker, or that the notes become harsh and untunable, 

 after all these hours of practice. The song-thrush, in 

 a mild moist April, will commence his tune early in 



