284 THE ZOOLOGIST, 



Starling also omits from his song the love -calls which in spring 

 concluded his phrases, and were accompanied by a fluttering or 

 flapping of the wings — a movement then indicative of ardent 

 overtures to his mate. On the other hand, the Bedstart and 

 Common Flycatcher acquire a note, " chick" or " chick-ik," 

 probably an alarm, uttered, as a rule, immediately after their 

 short cries. 



The similarity of certain cries of unimitative species may be 

 of value as indicating a survival or modification from common 

 originals ; and a like resemblance is almost equally noteworthy 

 when occurring in unvarying cries, such as alarms or call-notes, 

 amongst species of extended song and mimicry ; notwithstanding 

 its occasional existence between the notes of birds widely distinct 

 (e.g. Dunlin and Tawny Owl, Wryneck and Butcher-bird, Kitti- 

 wake and Peregrine Falcon), when it may possibly be due to the 

 companionship of the birds in a remote period. Darwin mentions 

 a Woodpecker of the plains that retains the note of its woodland 

 congeners ( c Origin of Species,' 6th ed., 142), and this bird, one 

 of an unimitative race, contrasts in habit with the Dipper, a 

 member of a family in which mimicry is prevalent. 



The similar cries of certain nearly allied species seem 

 generic, and appear to have descended in a pedigree of imitation, 

 and in association with definite physical characteristics, from a 

 common ancestor of the species ; but there are instances in which 

 similarity of voice is the closest bond between species of different 

 genera. Among the raptorial birds, the notes of foreign and 

 British Falcons and Hawks are generally described as shrill cries, 

 screams, or shrieks; and those of foreign and British Owls are 

 generally represented in words which imply long, hollow sounds. 

 The shriek of the young Kestrel appears to be modified a little 

 in the cries of the young and adult Butcher-bird ; and the same 

 character-sound, varied in pitch, constitutes the song of the 

 Wryneck. The Butcher-bird's cry is strangely repeated by the 

 young of the Great Titmouse, but is changed as the birds 

 attain maturity. The song of the Wryneck is fairly like those of 

 the Green Woodpecker and Tree Creeper, and the long notes of 

 the Nuthatch. The call-notes of the Great Titmouse are heard 

 in the Cole Titmouse, but the latter has a somewhat different, 

 and, of course, much less powerful song. The song of the Blue 

 Titmouse varies further from that of the Great Titmouse; but 



