32 ON THE NOTES OF BIRDS. 
it was thought that an examination of his method of 
investigation would be useful in exposing its insuffi- 
ciency, and the consequent looseness of the arguments 
founded upon it; while the institution of a less ex- 
ceptional course of experiments, it was hoped, might 
dissipate much of the obscurity in which this intri- 
cate question is at present involved. In what degree 
these expectations have been realized remains to be 
shown. 
Mr. Barrington informs us that his experiments 
were principally made with young Linnets, which 
were fledged, and nearly able to leave the nest ; and 
the reasons assigned for this selection are, that birds 
of this species are docile and possess great powers of 
inuitation, and that the cocks are easily distinguished 
from the hens at an early period. These nestling 
Linnets were educated under singing birds of various 
kinds; and it appears that, instead of having the 
Linnet’s notes, they learned those of their respective 
instructors, to which they adhered almost entirely. 
Tn some instances, to be sure, the nestlings retained 
the call of their own species, which, as they were three 
weeks old when taken from the nest, it is supposed 
they had learned from their parents; and not un- 
frequently, when they had opportunities of hearing 
several species, they borrowed from more than one, 
and their songs became mixed *. 
* The reason given by Mr. Barrington for the steady adher- 
ence of birds in a wild state to their own songs is, that they 
