introduction; 29 



The call-note — tlie warble of love — and the notes 

 of defiance, or prelude to battle — seem only to be 

 understood by birds of the same species, at least 

 in a wild state. Perhaps in a state of domestication, 

 birds of different genera, if nearly allied, may par- 

 tially comprehend these notes, as the canary bird 

 does the notes of the siskin, the goldfinch, and the 

 linnet. But this, we tliink, is more occasioned by 

 necessity than choice in these birds; and, in this 

 case, it is man who breaks down the barriers Na- 

 ture has so wisely put between different species. 



The note of fear or alarm of the cock-bird, by 

 which he gives notice to the hen of the approach 

 of danger near the nest, and which she perfectly 

 understands, — for she either keeps close, or quietly 

 makes her escape ; this note we think is also only 

 comprehended by birds of the same species, though 

 we have certainly seen birds of different genera 

 appear as if alarmed by this note of fear sounded 

 by a bird of a different species or genus ; but whe- 

 ther it was the note that alarmed them, or our pre- 

 sence, we cannot say. But, we are pretty sure, 

 the notes of parent birds, and the chirp of their 

 young, are only understood by birds of the same 

 species, or rather we should say family for it ap- 

 pears to be a family language, understood reci- 



