APPENDIX. 673 



The other reafon for the inhabitants of London 

 judging better in relation to the fong of birds, ari- 

 fes from their hearing each bird fing diflin&ly, 

 either in their own or their neighbours fhops - 9 as 

 alio from a bird continuing much longer in fong 

 whilft in a cage, than when at liberty ; the caufe 

 of which I mall endeavour hereafter to explain. 



They who live in the country, on the other 

 hand, do not hear birds fing in their woods for a- 

 bove two months in the year, when the confufion 

 of notes prevents their attending to the fong of any 

 particular bird ; nor does he continue long enough 

 in a place, for the hearer to recoiled: his notes with 

 accuracy. 



Befides this, birds in the fpring fmg very loud 

 indeed; but they only give fhort jerks, andfcarce- 

 ly ever the whole compafs of their fong. 



For thefe reafons, I have never happened to 

 meet with any perfon, who had not refided in Lon- 

 don, whofe judgment or opinion on this fubject 1 

 could the leaft rely upon ; and a flronger proof 

 of this cannot be given, than that mod people, 

 who keep Canary birds do not know that they fing 

 chiefly either the titlark, or nightingale notes *. 



Nothing, 



* I once faw two of thefe birds which came from the Ca- 

 nary Ijlands ; neither of which had any fong at all ; and I have 

 been informed, that a mip brought a great many of them 

 not long flnce, v/hieh fang as little. 



Moil of thofe Canary birds, which are imported from the 



Tyrol, 



