476 
SONG OF BIRDS, 
derably chang-ed ; sometimes their song* is hurried throug-h 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 
