!36 APPENDIX. VI. 



nestling had undoubtedly acquired the notes 

 of the wren, without having had any opportu- 

 nity of learning even the call of the goldfinch. 



These facts, which I have stated, seem to 

 prove very decisively, that birds have not any 

 innate ideas of the notes which are supposed to 

 be peculiar to each species. But it will pos- 

 sibly be asked, why, in a wild state, they ad- 

 here so steadily to the same song, in so much, 

 that it is well known, before the bird is heard, 

 what notes you are to expect from him. 



This, however, arises entirely from the nest- 

 ling's attending only to the instruction of the 

 parent bird, whilst it disregards the notes of all 

 others, which may perhaps be singing round 

 him. 



Young Canary birds are frequently reared in 

 a room where there are many other sorts ; and 

 yet I have been informed, that they only learn 

 the song of the parent cock. 



Every one knows, that the common house- 

 sparrow, when in a wild state, never does any 

 thing but chirp : this, however, does not arise 

 from want of powers in this bird to imitate 

 others ; but because he only attends to the 

 parental note. 



But, to prove this decisively, I took a com- 

 mon sparrow from the nest when it; was fledged^ 



