342 APPENDIX. VI. 



Nothing, however, can be more marked than 

 the note of a nightingale called its jug, which 

 most of the Canary birds brought from the 

 Tyrol commonly have, as well as several night- 

 ingale strokes, or particular passages in the song 

 of that bird. 



I mention this superior knowledge in the in- 

 habitants of the capital, because I am con- 

 vinced, that, if others are consulted in relation 

 to the singing of birds, they will only mislead, 

 instead of giving any material or useful infor- 

 mation.* 



Birds in a wild state do not commonly sing 



above ten weeks in the year ; which is then also 



confined to the cocks of a few species ; I con- 



; ceive, that this last circumstance arises from the 



superior strength of the muscles of the larynx. 



I procured a cock nightingale, a cock and 

 hen blackbird, a cock and hen rook, a cock lin- 

 net, as also a cock and hen chaffinch, which 

 that very eminent anatomist, Mr. Hunter, 

 F. R. S. was so obliging as to dissect for me, 

 and begged, that he would particularly attend 

 to the state of the organs in the different birds, 



* As it will not answer to catch birds with clap-nets any 



where but in the neighbourhood of London, most of the birds 



which may be heard in a country town are nestlings, and conse- 



^ quently cannot sing the supposed natural song in any perfection. 



