356 
APPENDIX. VI. 
they often mistake for the notes of their own 
species. 
I have before observed, that perhaps no bird 
may be said to sing which is larger than a black 
bird, though many of them are taught to speak : © 
the smaller birds, however, have this power of 
imitation; though perhaps the larger ones have 
not organs which may enable them, on the a 
hand, to sing. 
We have the following instances of birds be- 
ing taught to speak, in the time of the Greeks 
and Romans, upon which we never try the same 
experiment. Moschus addresses nightingales 
and swallows which were thus instructed : 
Adovides, maces Te yEAWoves, as Tox ETECTEY, 
As Awdgiv edidacxe. 
Moschi Idyl. W111. 
Pliny mentions both a cock, thrush, and 
nightingales, which articulated :* 
“ Habebant & Casares juvenes turdum,f 
“ item duscinias Greco atque Latino sermone 
*“ dociles, preeterea meditantes in diem, & as- 
“ sidue nova loquentes longiore etiam con- 
‘itextu.” 
* Lib. X. c. 21 & 42. 
t Ibid. The other furdus belonged to the Empress Agrip- 
pine. 
