CHAPTER IV 



THE RELATION OF SONG TO THE TERRITORY 



If we listen to the voices of the Waders as, 

 in search of food, they follow the slowly ebbing 

 tide, we shall notice that each species has a 

 number of different cries, some of which are 

 uttered frequently and others only occasionally. 

 Not only so, but if we study the circumstances 

 under which they are uttered, we shall in time 

 learn to associate certain specific notes with 

 certain definite situations. 



The Curlew, when surprised, utters a cry 

 with which most of us, I suppose, are famihar ; 

 but when with lowered head it drives away 

 another individual from the feeding ground, 

 it gives expression to its feelings by a low, 

 raucous sound, which again is different from 

 its cry when a Common Gull steals the arenicola 

 that has been drawn out of the mud with such 

 labour. 



Thus we come to speak of "alarm notes," 

 " notes of anger," " warning notes " — naming 

 each according to the situations which normally 

 accompany their utterance. And so, all species, 



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