APPENDIX. VI. 
nestling had undoubtedly acquired the notes 
of the wren, without having had any opportu- 
nity of learning even the call of the goldfinch. 
These facts, which I have stated, seem to 
prove very decisively, that birds have not any 
innate ideas of the notes which are supposed to 
be peculiar to each species. But it will pos- 
sibly be asked, why, in a wild state, they ad- 
here so steadily to the same song, in so much, 
that it is well known, before the bird is heard, 
what notes you are to expect from him. —- 
This, however, arises entirely from the nest- 
ling’s attending only to the instruction of the 
parent bird, whilst it disregards the notes of all 
others, which may perhaps be singing round 
him. 
Young Canary birds are frequently reared in 
a room where there are many other sorts; and 
yet I have been informed, that they only learn 
the song of the parent cock. 
Every one knows, that the common house- 
sparrow, when in a wild state, never does any 
thing but chirp: this, however, does not arise 
from want of powers in this bird to imitate 
others; but because he only attends to the 
parental note. 
But, to prove this decisively, I took a com- 
mon sparrow from the nest when it was fledged, 
