148 RAMBLES ABOUT HOME. 



clear that the simple power of mimicry must have been 

 first gained, and that the ventriloquial power, or the 

 power to repeat a sound so as to make it seem as if it 

 were uttered somewhere else, was a subsequent acquisition. 

 Such an addition to the power of mimicking other bin Is 

 and the cries of small mammals would at once prove 

 advantageous in misleading a pursuing enemy, as, for 

 instance, a small hawk ; and the chat would not be slow 

 to learn this, and to profit by the knowledge. In this 

 way a new habit readily becomes characteristic of a spe- 

 cies, first locally, and then throughout the entire extent 

 of its haunts. 



A word in conclusion concerning the vocal powers 

 of the chat. While it is true that these birds sing a good 

 deal by day, yet it is not until after sunset and during 

 the night, especially if there be a moon, that they are 

 merriest ; and a more joyous strain never came from the 

 bobolink than that which is then uttered by the chats. 

 But, alas ! this melody is so often spoiled by a comming- 

 ling of mournful sounds, that it is not surprising the 

 Indians should have called them the " ghost-birds." 



About the middle of June the young birds had left 

 the nest, though they still continued with the parent 

 birds, and were fed by them. From this time until 

 August, when both old and young left the neighborhood, 

 I failed to detect any attempt even at singing on the part 

 of the young ; and the more marked features of the song 

 of the parent birds were but seldom heard after the young 

 had obtained a sufficient flight-power to insure their 

 safety. This would seem to lead to the inference that 

 both the mimicry and the ventriloquism were exercised 

 by the male for the purpose of securing safety to the 

 young and to the female while upon her nest ; as the 

 occasional exhibitions of song on his arrival in spring 



