C 257 1 
in fo much that it is is well known, before the bird is 
heard, what notes you are to expedt from him. 
This, however, arifes entirely from the neftling’s 
attending only to the inflru&ion of the parent bird,, 
whilft it difregards the notes of all others, which 
may perhaps be finging round him. 
Young Canary-birds are frequently reared in a 
room where there are many other forts; and yet I 
have been informed that they only learn the long of 
the parent cock. 
Every one knows, that the common houfe-fpar- 
row, when in a wild date, never does any thing but 
chirp: this, however, does mot arife from want of 
powers in this bird to imitate others ; but becaufe he 
only attends to the parental note. 
But, to prove this decilively, I took a common 
Sparrow from the neft when it was fledged, and 
educated him under a linnet: the bird, however,, 
by accident heard a goldfinch alfo, and his fong; 
was, therefore, a mixture of the linnet and gold- 
finch. 
I have tried feveral experiments, in order to ob- 
ferve from what circumftances birds fix upon any 
particular note when taken from the parents ; but 
cannot fettle this with any fort of precifion,. any 
more than at what period of their recording they de- 
termine upon the fong to which they will adhere.. 
I educated a young robin under a very fine Nigh- 
tingale; which, however, began already to be out: 
of fong, and was perfectly mute in lefs than a fort- 
night. 
This robin afterwards fung three parts in four 
nightingale ; and the reft of his fong was what the 
bird®- 
