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I am awaje alfo, that it may be afked, how birds 
originally came by; the notes which are peculiar to. 
each fpecies. My anfwer, however, to this is, that 
the origin of the notes of birds, together with its gra- 
dual progrefs, is as difficult to be traced, as that of' 
the different languages in nations. 
The lofs of the parent-cock at the critical time 
for inftrudion hath undoubtedly produced thofe va- 
rieties, which I have before obferved are in the fong 
of each fpecies ; becaufe then the neftling hath ei- 
ther attended to the fong of fome other birds ; or 
perhaps invented fome new notes of its own, which 
are afterwards perpetuated from generation to gene- 
ration, till fimilar accidents produce other altera- 
tions. The organs of fome birds alfo are probably 
fo defective, that they cannot imitate properly the 
parental note, as fome men can never articulate as 
they ffiouid do. Such defers in the parent bird- 
muff again occaficn varieties, becaufe thefe defers 
will be continued to their defendants, who (as I 
before have proved) will only attend to the pa- 
rental fong. Some of thefe defendants alfo may 
have imperfed organs; which will again multiply 
varieties in the fong. 
The truth is, as I before obferved, that fcarcely 
any two birds of the fame fpecies have exactly the 
fame notes, if they are accurately attended to, 
though there is a general refemblance. 
Thus mo ft people fee no difference between one 
ffieep and another, when a large flock is before 
them. The fhepherd, however, knows each of 
them, andean fwear to them, if they are loft; as. 
can the Lincolnfhire gofherd to each, goole. 
A* 
