154 Stimmer Studies of Birds and Books chap. 



song, the call-notes of certain species which are always 

 in his neighbourhood — e.g. the Chaffinch, and the 

 Pied and Yellow Wagtails. He is often said to go 

 further than this, and to reproduce complete songs ; 

 but this I have never heard, though I have lis- 

 tened to thousands of Sedge Warblers. But the Marsh 

 Warbler, whose performances I have described in 

 another chapter, is probably as skilful a mimic as 

 any bird in the world. I have many times listened 

 by the half-hour together to his wonderful and amus- 

 ing song, which has quite an individuality of its own, 

 and is of the same general type as the Nightingale's ; 

 but a great part of it is taken up with most unmis- 

 takable and sometimes quite ludicrous robbery of 

 other birds' strains, so that I, who had always been 

 a little sceptical about the accounts of mocking-birds, 

 became at once and for ever convinced. 



It is hard to say why this particular species, 

 and so few others, should have taken up with this 

 thievish propensity. Why is it that its near rela- 

 tion the Eeed Warbler, a bird in outward appearance 

 almost exactly like it, should lead a perfectly sober 

 life, and steadily recognise the difference between 

 meum and tuum ? The only suggestion I can make 

 is, that of the two the Marsh Warbler is far the 

 more vivacious, restless, and apparently full of fun ; 

 and that, while the Eeed Warbler represents the con- 

 servative element which is so strong in bird-life — the 



