180 F. Finn — General Notes on Variation in Birds. [No. 3, 



Here, then, we have in two species of the same natural group con- 

 siderable variation in disposition, both individual and specific. 



J. Variation in Mental Powers. 



- It is familiar to bird-fanciers that some individuals of a species 

 learn to speak or sing with greater facility than others. 



In talking Hill-Mynahs (JEJulabes intermedia) and Parrots of vari- 

 ous species everyone must have noticed how few specimens can clearly 

 enunciate words. I have only seen two of the above Mynahs which I 

 should call good talkers, and one of these was more perfect than the 

 other. 



Sex may be supposed to make some difference, but two out of the 

 only three clearly-speaking Parrots I have known were females ; these 

 were a red-and-yellow Macaw (Ara macao) and a common Ring-necked 

 Indian Parrakeet (Palseornis torquatus). The other was an African 

 grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus) whose sex I do not know. 



I also noticed in a brood of young Cormorants (Phalacrocorax 

 javanicus) I reared some years ago, that one was so tame that I could 

 carry it about on my hand, while another was so wild and vicious that 

 it was difficult to haudle it at all. 



Two young Bayas or Weavers (Ploceus atrigula) which I recently reared varied 

 exceedingly in intellectual powers. Both were confiding, but one was also nervous 

 and stupid, dashing off in aimless flights, and when coming to me settling some- 

 times on my nose ; while the other's excursions were much more purposeful, and 

 it would freely alight on my head or shoulder, or ou those of others, hardly ever 

 trying to settle on the face. 



K. Variation in Taste. 



A few instances of special preferences or the reverse in diet seem 

 worth recording. 



Mr. Meldrum of this city tells me that a Bhimraj (Bissemurus 

 paradiseus) in his possession will not eat cockroaches ; the specimens I 

 have kept have usually done so readily, although supplied, as his bird is, 

 with other insects. 



I have noted above (p. 179) in one Liothrix (L. luteus) out of two 

 dozen kept under the same conditions, a strong appetite for canary-seed. 

 I have heard of a pair which ultimately killed themselves by too much 

 indulgence in this article of food, although they had a choice. 



Sexual variations in taste have been fully dealt with by Darwin, 

 and it is plain that individual inclination to breed outside the species 

 frequently occurs. (Descent of Man, 2nd edition, 1899,^.414,415). 



The aversion to particular males, however, often alluded to, is very 



