ANDERSEN.—-New Zealand and other Bird-song. 777 
Bolton (BH, vol. 1, p. 15) writes of the blackbird, “ When two are singing 
at the same time within hearing of each other they will contend in song 
like the nightingale, each keeping silence alternately till the other has 
repeated his song." Birds are often matched in song by fanciers, and 
will at times, at such contests, sing themselves to death; and some 
naturalists believe that singing is almost exclusively the effect of rivalry 
and emulation (DD, pp. 369-70). The editor of White’s Selborne remarks 
(WS, p. 123) in a note that the song of the swallow exhibits no appearance 
of emulation, but that “‘it seems to proceed from feelings of happiness 
and complacency, which cannot be mistaken. I like to watch it darting 
now and then to its nest, and uttering that little note of love which is 
responded to by the female whilst she is performing her task of incuba- 
tion . . ." On this point, how is it known that the brooding female 
pays special regard to the song of her mate? How is it known that she 
does not pay equal regard to the song of every bird singing within hearing ? 
There is always the human analogy; and the human analogy, if we be 
honest, will lead us to most varying conclusions. 
Again, is it sexual desire, or emulation, or pleasure that induces one 
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English mocking-bird. “It executes its imitations in rather a hurri 
but very pleasing manner" (BH, vol. 2, p. 69). ocking-bir 
show the extreme to which imitation may be carried; but if imitation 
detract from the quality of the song, would that not be a fatal disadvantage 
greenfinch, &c. ; and Witchell himself (WE, pp. 195 
et seq., and 201 et seq.) produces tables showing various bird-notes imitated 
imitations may in reality 
"ch bird is the imitator, which the imitated. | 
д "No s putetis Ways an important part in the education of the 
young bird, though it has not been shown w 
is instincti . W. Herbert, i 
із шешсе, е very full observations on the learning of song by youn 
E birds the gist of the observations being against HUNE Dang instinctive. 
