ON THE SINGING OF BIRDS. 
speak, and as I have shewn that a sparrow may 
be taught to sing the linnet’s note, I scarcely 
know what species to fix upon, that may be 
considered as incapable of such imitations; for 
it is very clear, from several experiments before 
stated, that the utmost endeavours will not be 
wanting in the bird, if he is endowed with the 
proper organs. | 
It can therefore only be settled by educating 
a bird, under proper circumstances, whether he 
is thus qualified or not; for if one was only to 
determine this point by conjecture, one should 
suppose that a sparrow would not imitate the 
tridge is, that the I¢alians to this day call this bird pernice, and 
the common sort séarna.* 
This also now brings me to the proofs, of sturnus in this pase 
sage of Séatius signifying the common partridge, and not the 
starling, which I must admit are not so strong as with regard to 
the import of the word perdix. If my arguments are not theres 
fore so convincing on this head, the number of birds taught to_ 
speak by the Romans, and not by us, must be reduced to threes 
as the starling is frequently learned to talk in the present times. 
As I cannot argue from the description of the habits of the 
sturnus, or the materials of its nest, as in the former instance, 
I must rest my conjecture (such as it is) on the two birds, almost 
following each other in these lines of Statius; on the common 
partridge being called starna to this day by the Jtalians, and 
upon the Romans having had otherwise no name for our .par¢ 
tridge (which is a yery common bird in Iéaly,), if sturnus is sup= 
posed to signify only a starling. 
® See Olina. 
3 
ro) 
9 
