38 BIRD-SONGS. 



far from being a dead uniformity. Aside from 

 the fact, already mentioned, that the character- 

 istic strain is sometimes given with extraordi- 

 nary sweetness and emphasis, there are often to 

 be detected variations of a more formal charac- 

 ter. This is noticeably true of robins. It may 

 almost be said that no two of them sing alike ; 

 while now and then their vagaries are conspic- 

 uous enough to attract general attention. One 

 who was my neighbor last year interjected into 

 his song a series of four or five most exact imi- 

 tations of the peep of a chicken. When I first 

 heard this performance, I was in company with 

 two friends, both of whom noticed and laughed 

 at it ; and some days afterwards I visited the 

 spot again, and found the bird still rehearsing 

 the same ridiculous medley. I conjectured that 

 he had been brought up near a hen-coop, and, 

 moreover, had been so unfortunate as to lose 

 his father before his notes had become thor- 

 oughly fixed ; and then, being compelled to 

 finish his musical education by himself, had 

 taken a fancy to practice these chicken calls. 

 This guess may not have been correct. All I 

 can affirm is that he sang exactly as he might 

 have been expected to do, on that supposition ; 

 but certainly the resemblance seemed too close 

 to be accidental. 



The variations of the wood thrush are fully 



