Cbe PsycDic nature of Bira Song. 



BY MORTON E. PECK. 

 Paper read before the Third Congress of the I. O. A. 



|f all the errors regarding the habits and natures of birds, none is 

 more prevalent than the total misconception of the real character 

 of their songs and the articulate sounds which they produce. The mis- 

 take is easily accounted for. A degree of similarity existing between their 

 notes and the human voice and some musical instrument, when producing 

 sounds expressive of certain mental states, has lead men in all times, fol- 

 lowing an aesthetic rather than scientific impulse, to fancy them indica- 

 tive of the same feelings as those which inspire spontaneous human song. 

 A glance at the position occupied by birds in the vertebrate series and the 

 examination of a few facts regarding their vocal expression will be suffi- 

 cient to show how improbable it is that these are the outcome of any very 

 complex psychic phenomena. 



The natural position of birds is between the Reptilia and Mammalia. 

 In the circulatory and respiratory system, including bodily temperature, 

 they are much nearer the mammals ; but on the other hand their organs 

 of reproduction closely resemble those of the reptiles, and what is still 

 more important in the present instance they have the lissencephalous rep- 

 tilian brain. It is clear therefore that their mental faculties must be far 

 below those of the quadrupeds, and will not pass far beyond the line of 

 protective and reproductive instincts. 



The songs and cries of birds are very generally supposed to indicate 

 grief, joy, Icrve, hate, anger, triumph, regret, and many other feelings of 

 a more or less complex character. It is during the mating season that 

 their vocal powers are exercised to their fullest, and hence the songs, no- 

 tably of passrine birds, are supposed to express sentiments of joy and af- 

 fection. Several facts may be cited which will show the improbability of 

 such a theory. In the first place why should not the song continue till 

 after the young are hatched, at which period paternal pride and affection 

 would naturally be the strongest, instead of gradually ceasing as incuba- 

 tion advances? Again, if a nest is broken up and replaced by another, 

 there is another reason of song, though no new mating, nor have we rea- 

 son to think there is any special revival of joy or affection. And further, 

 many song birds, some of which utter a great variety of cries will sing 

 under the stress of any very strong excitement. I have observed a Batbird 

 that had accidentally made its way into a room full of people singing with 

 the accompaniment of a piano, after vainly seeking a way of escape, break 

 into song, and continue singing for some time in a perfectly normal tone 



