BRITISH WARBLERS 



maximum development the power of producing numerous 

 strains embracing a wide range of notes correlated with a 

 power of imitation, embracing in its turn not only the notes 

 but the phrases of other species. If we are content to do 

 this, we need have no hesitation in placing. the Marsh Warbler 

 in the foremost rank ; and this is what concerns us more 

 immediately. 



No one acquainted with its powers and those of the 

 Reed Warbler could deny that it surpasses the latter both 

 in song and imitation. There is, indeed, but little in common 

 between the true songs of the two species. Instead of the 

 laboured efforts of the Eeed Warbler we listen to a flow 7 of 

 song exhibiting a range of notes and modulation approached 

 by few other species ; some of the phrases own a peculiar 

 charm — I believe that they could be reproduced only by some 

 kind of stringed instrument — and they possess an additional 

 interest from the fact that they are identical with certain 

 phrases in the song of the Icterine Warbler (Hypolais icterina). 

 I recollect on one occasion being puzzled as to the identifica- 

 tion of a bird owing to the similarity in the two songs, and 

 was only able to decide to which species the owner of the 

 voice belonged when it fluttered out of the foliage. The 

 imitative faculty of the Marsh Warbler probably surpasses 

 that of any other species found in the British Islands. 

 On various occasions I have listened to imitations of the 

 following : Swallow (Hirundo rustica), House-Sparrow (Passer 

 domesticns), Hedge-Sparrow (Accentor modularis) song and 

 call note, Greenfinch (Ligurinus cJiloris), Chaffinch (Fringilla 

 coelebs), Goldfinch (Garduelis elegans), Linnet (Acanthis 

 cannabina), Blue Titmouse (Parus cceruleus), Great Titmouse 

 (Parus major), Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) alarm note, 

 Nightingale (Daulias luscinia), Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus 

 pliragmitis), Reed Warbler (Acroceplialus streperus), Savi's 

 Warbler (Locustella luscinioides), Garden Warbler (Sylvia 

 horiensis), Chiff-Chaff (Pliylloscopns mfus) call note, Willow 

 Warbler (Phylloscopus trocliilus) song and call note, White- 



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