MIMICS AMONG BIRDS 215 



tience make good instructors for these mimics. A 

 piping bull-finch is worth many dollars. The gold- 

 finch soon learns to mimic the song of canaries, the 

 chirp of sparrows, the bell-like notes of the black- 

 bird, and the call of the redbird; in fact, any bird 

 notes that he chances to hear repeatedly. 



Skylarks are known to imitate the distress cry of 

 the plover, while lapwings will imitate various calls 

 of alarm. The blue titmouse defends her nest in a 

 hole by purring up her feathers and hissing like a 

 snake. 



There is no doubt that the stormy petrel has 

 learned to imitate the motion of the waves, flying 

 with motions not unlike those of certain fish. Corn- 

 wall aptly describes these movements: 



"Up and down! Up and down! 

 From the base of the wave to the billow's crown, 

 And amidst the flashing and feathery foam, 

 The stormy petrel finds a home, — 

 A home, if such a place may be, 

 For her who lives on the wide blue sea, 

 On the craggy ice, in the frozen air, 

 And only seeketh her rookery lair 

 To warm her young, and to teach them spring 

 At once o'er the waves on their stormy wing!" 



These strange little "water-witches" or Mother 

 Carey's chickens are familiar to all sea-travellers. 



