ORGANS OF VOICE. 73 



ticular spray, and make itself a great favourite from 

 its powerful and constant singing. When one day 

 it was observed, by the gardener, to drop suddenly 

 from the bough in the midst of its song. He im- 

 mediately ran to pick it up, but found it quite dead; 

 and, upon examination, discovered that it had 

 actually broken a blood-vessel by its exertions, and 

 thus perished. 



That the notes and cries of birds serve them 

 instead of language, there can be little doubt; one 

 person indeed is on record, who, having passed much 

 of his time in boyhood alone, in lonely situations, 

 had by close attention acquired such a knowledge of 

 this language, that, from the song of the parents, he 

 knew where the nests were situated, whether they 

 contained eggs, or whether the brood was hatched, 

 knowing even the number of young birds, and their 

 age, before he saw them*. In fact, a common ob- 

 server may, in some instances, understand their 

 different notes, and all their different wants and 

 emotions, as well as the birds themselves do. 



Thus, while walking in a wood, if we happen to 

 get sight of a flock of Jays before they chance to 

 notice our approach, they will be seen enjoying 

 themselves, and chattering in seeming confusion. 

 Suddenly one will be heard to utter a peculiar short 

 deeper-toned note, when in an instant all is silent, 

 and they may be seen skulking off one by one, only 

 to be heard again, when they have sheltered them- 

 selves at a considerable distance. Crows and Field- 

 fares, with many others of what are called congre- 



* See Quarterly Review on Lord Holland's Life of Lope 

 de Vega ; vol. xviii., p. 36. 



