704 APPENDIX. 



or perhaps invented fome new notes of its own, 

 which are afterwards perpetuated from generation 

 to generation, till fimilar accidents produce other 

 alterations, The organs of fome birds alfo are 

 probably fo defective, that they cannot imitate pro- 

 perly the parental notes, as fome men can never 

 articulate as they mould do. Such defects in the 

 . parent bird mull again occafion varieties, becaufe 

 thefe defects will be continued to their defcendants, 

 who (as I before have proved) will only attend to 

 the parental long. Some of thefe defcendants alfo 

 may have imperfect organs-, which will again 

 multiply varieties in the fong. 



The truth is, as I have already obferved, that 

 fcarcely any two birds of the fame fpecies have ex- 

 actly the fame notes, if any are accurately attended 

 to, though there is a general refemblance. 



Thus mod people fee no difference between one 

 fheep and another, when a large flock is before 

 them. The fhepherd, however, knows each of 

 them, and can fwear to them, if they are loft ; as 

 can the Lincoln/hire goiherd to each goofe. 



As I now draw towards a conclufion of both my 

 experiments and obfervations on the ringing of 

 birds •, it may be poflibly alked, what ufe refults 

 either from the trouble or expence which they have 

 coft me -, both of which I admit to have been con- 

 fiderable. 



I will readily own, that no very important ad- 

 vantages can be derived from them -, and yet I fhall 



not 



