476 



SONG OF BIRDS. 



derably changed ; sometimes their song- is hurried through without the 

 usual grace and elegance ; at other times modulated into a soothing 

 melody. The first we conceive to be a provocation to battle on the 

 sight of another male; the last an amorous cadence, a courting address. 

 This variety of song lasts no longer than till the female is fixed in her 

 choice, which is in general in a few days after her arrival ; and, if the 

 season is favourable, she soon begins the task allotted to her sex. 



The male now no more exposes himself to sing as before, nor are his 

 songs heard so frequently, or so loud ; but while she is searching for a 

 secure place to build her nest in, he is no less assiduous in attending her 

 with ridiculous gestures, accompanied with notes peculiarly soft. When 

 the female has chosen a spot for nidification, the male constantly at- 

 tends her flight to and from the place, and sits upon some branch near, 

 while his mate instinctively places the small portion of material she each 

 time brings to rear a commodious fabric for her intended brood. When 

 the building is complete, and she has laid her portion of eggs, incuba- 

 tion immediately takes place. The male is now heard loud again, but 

 not near so frequently as at first ; he never rambles from her hearing, 

 and seldom from her sight ; if she leaves her nest he soon perceives 

 it, and pursues her, sometimes accompanied with soft notes of love. 

 When the callow brood appears he is instantly apprised of it, either by 

 instinct, or by the female carrying away the fragment shells to some 

 distant place. The male is now no more heard in tuneful glee, unless 

 a second brood should force the amorous song again; his whole care 

 and attention is now taken up in satisfying the nutrimental calls of his 

 tender infant race, which he does with no less assiduity than his mate, 

 carrying them food, and returning frequently with the muting of the 

 young in his beak, which is dropped at a distance from the nest. Here 

 we must beg leave to digress for a moment to remark, that, with the 

 utmost attention, we have never been able to discover the parent birds 

 giving their young a musical lesson; and much question if the late 

 brood of many species ever hear the song of their parents, till they join 

 chorus the ensuing spring, when they also feel the impulse of love, the 

 great dictate of nature. 



The continuation of song in caged birds, by no means proves it is not 

 occasioned by a stimulus to love ; indeed it is likely the redundancy of 

 animal matter from plenty of food, and artificial heat, may produce it ; 

 and this is sufficient reason for continuing their song longer than birds 

 in their natural wild state, because they have a constant stimulus ; 

 whereas wild birds have it abated by a commerce with the other sex, 

 by which, and other causes, it is prevented. It is true wild birds are 



