50 ouu natrt: songsters. 



birds to form notes. " I have known," says 

 the Hon. Daines Barrington, " instances of birds 

 beginning to record when they were not a month 

 old. This first essay does not seem to have tlie 

 least rudiments of the future song; but, as the 

 bird grows okler and stronger, one may begin to 

 perceive what the nestling is aiming at, AVhilst 

 the schohir is thus endeavouring to form his song, 

 when lie is once sure of a passage, he commonly 

 raises liis tone, which he drops again when he is 

 not equal to what he is attempting; jnst as a 

 singer raises his voice, when he not only recollects 

 certain parts of a tune with precision, but knows 

 that he can execute them. What the nestling is 

 not thus thoroughly master of, he humcs over, 

 lowering his tone, as if he did not wish to be 

 heard, and could not yet satisfy himself. A young 

 bird commonly continues to record for ten or 

 eleven months, when he is able to execute every 

 part of his song, which afterwards continues fixed, 

 and is scarcely ever altered. AVlien the bird is 

 thus become perfect in his lesson, he is said to 

 sing his song round, or in all its varieties of pas- 

 sages, which he connects together, and executes 

 without a pause." 



