ON THE SINGING OF BIRDS. S75 



season; nor are we less willing to suppose the 

 song of birds to be superior to our own musical 

 powers. 



The notes of many birds are certainly very 

 pleasing, but by no means stand in competition 

 either with the human voice or our worst musi- 

 cal mstruments; not only from want of the 

 striking effects of harmony in many excellent 

 compositions; but because, even when com- 

 pared to our simple melody, expression is want- 

 ing, * without which music is so languid and in- 

 animate. 



But to return to the uses (such as they are) 

 which may arise from attending to the song of 

 birds, or from the experiments which I have 

 given an account of. 



The first of these is too much neglected by the 

 naturalist; for, if the bird is not caught, the only 

 means often by which either the sex or the species 

 can be determined is the song. For example, if . . ^ 



Mons. Adanson had informed us whether the 

 European swallows, which he conceived were to 

 be seen during the winter at Senegal, had the 

 same notes with those of Europe, it would 

 have been going one step further in proof of the 

 facts which he and others so much rely upon. 



These experiments, however, may be said to 



* The nightingale, indeed, is perhaps an exception to this 

 general observation. 



