Ornithology. 105 



notes, as was set at liberty, it is probable it would never find 

 a mate of its own species; and even supposing it did, there 

 is no reason to believe the young of that bird would be 

 destitute of its native notes; for if nestling birds have no 

 innate notes peculiar to the species, and their song is only 

 learned from the parent bird, how are we to account for the 

 invariable notes each species possess, when it happens that 

 two different species are bred up in the same l)ush, or in one 

 very contiguous, or when hatched or fostered by a different 

 species ? There is every reason to believe it is necessary that 

 there should be native notes peculiar to each species, or the 

 sexes might have some difficulty in discovering each other, 

 the species be intermixed, and a variety of mules produced ; 

 for we cannot suppose birds discriminate the colors by vvhich 

 their species are known, because some distinct species are so 

 exactly alike that a mixture might take place. The males of 

 song birds, and many others, do not in general search for the 

 female, but, on the contrary, their business in th6 spring is to 

 perch on some conspicuous spot, breathing out their full and 

 amorous notes, which, by instinct, the female knows, and 

 repairs to the spot to choose her mate. This is particularly 

 verified with respect to the summer birds of passage. The 

 nightingale, and most of its genus, although timid and shy to 

 a great degree, mount aloft, and incessantly pour forth their 

 amorous strains, each seemingly vieing in its love-labored 

 song before the females arrive. No sooner do they make 

 their appearance than dreadful battles ensue, and their notes 

 are considerably changed ; sometimes their song is hurried 

 through without the usual grace and elegance ; at other limes 

 modulated into a soothing melody. The first we conceive to 

 be a provocation to battle on the sight of another male ; the 

 last an amorous cadence, a courting address. This variety 

 of song lasts no longer than till the female is fixed in her 

 choice, which is in general in a few days after her arrival ; 

 and if the season is favorable, she soon begins the task allotted 

 to her sex. 



The male nov*^ no more exposes himself to sing as before, 

 nor are his songs heard so frequently, or so loud ; but while 

 the female is searching for a secure place to build a nest 

 he is no less assiduous in attending her with ridiculous 

 gestures, accompanied with notes peculiarly soft. When 

 the female has chosen a spot for nidification, the male 

 constantly attends her flight to and from the place, and sits 

 upon some branch near, while his mate instinctively places 

 the small portion of material she each time brings to rear a 

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