ORGANS OP VOICE. 
73 
ticular spray, and made itself a great favourite from 
its powerful and constant singing. When one day 
it was observed, by the gardener, to drop suddenly 
from the bough in the midst of its song. He im- 
mediately ran to pick it up, hut found it quite dead ; 
and, upon examination, discovered that it had 
actually broken a blood-vessel by its exertions, and 
thus perished. 
That the notes and cries of birds serve them 
instead of language, there can be little doubt; one 
person indeed is on record, who, having passed much 
of his time in boyhood alone, in lonely situations, 
had by close attention acquired such a knowledge of 
this language, that, from the song of the parents, he 
knew where the nests were situated, whether they 
contained eggs, or whether the brood was hatched, 
knowing even the number of young birds, and their 
age, before he saw them *. In fact, a common ob- 
server may, in many instances, understand their 
different notes, and all their different wants and 
emotions, as well as the birds themselves do. 
Thus, while walking in a wood, if we happen to 
get sight of a flock of Jays before they chance to 
notice our approach, they will be seen enjoying 
themselves, and chattering in seeming confusion. 
Suddenly one will be heard to utter a peculiar short 
deeper-toned note, when in an instant all is silent, 
and they may be seen skulking off one by one, only 
to be heard again, when they have sheltered them- 
selves at a considerable distance. Crows and Field- 
fares, with many others of what are called congre- 
* See Quarterly Review on Lord Holland’s Life of Lope 
de Vega ; vol. xviii., p. 36. 
