Notes of Birds. oF 
“ As it might be objected that these birds remembered 
the notes of their parents, “I placed the eggs of a redbreast 
in the nest of a chaffinch, and removed the eggs of the chaf- 
finch to that of the redbreast ; conceiving that if I was fortu- 
nate in rearing the young, | should by this exchange insure 
an unexceptionable experiment, the result of which must 
be deemed perfectly conclusive by all parties. In process. 
of time these eggs were hatched, and IJ had the satisfaction to 
find that the young birds had their appropriate chirps.* 
When ten days old they were taken from their nests, and 
were brought up by hand, immediately under my own in- 
spection, especial care being taken to remove them to a dis- 
tance from whatever was likely to influence their notes. At 
this period, an unfortunate circumstance which it is needless 
to relate, destroyed all these birds, except two——a fine cock 
redbreast, and a hen chaffinch; which, at the expiration of 
twenty-one days from the time they were hatched, com- 
menced the calls peculiar to their species. This was an im- 
portant point gained, as it evidently proved that the calls of 
birds, at least, are innate; and that, at this early age, ten 
days are not sufficient to enable nestlings to acquire even the 
calls of those under whieh they are bred; thus clearly es- 
tablishing the validity of the first experiment made with the 
young grosbeaks, Shortly after, the redbreast began to re- 
cord,} but in so low a tone, that it was scarcely pessible te 
trace the radiments of its future song in these early attempts = 
as it gained strength and confidence, however, its native 
notes became very apparent, and they continued to improve 
in tone till the termination of July, when it commenced 
moulting, which did net as was expected, put a stop to its re- 
cording. About the middle of August it was in a deep moult, 
and by the beginning of October had acquired most of its 
new feathers. It now began to execute its song in a manner 
ealculated to remove every doubt as to its being that of the 
redbreast, had any such previously existed: its habits also 
were as decidedly characteristic as its notes; and I am the - 
more particular in noticing this latter circumstance, because 
the peculiar habits of birds are quite as difficult to account for 
as the origin of their songs.’ ' 
a 
_ *A term defined by Mr. Barrington to be the first sound a young 
bird utters as a cry for food. 
+The first endeavours ofa young bird to sing are called recording. 
