358 
SONGS OF BIRDS. 
remarking the suspension of song in wild birds 
when snow or other obstacles preclude the procu- 
rance of food, I yet think that this is no further an 
influence than by its power of controuling the 
animal spirits, for many song-birds are silent during 
seasons of abundance. Although therefore by this 
very same argument it would seem that excitation 
of their spirits was not the absolute or precise cause 
of song, yet this is of all others the most plausible 
source, and that one which will bear the most 
scrutiny. 
In support of this opinion that the songs of birds 
are the result of flow of animal spirits, and indicate 
feelings of hilarity and cheerfulness, prompted by 
various agreeable stimuli, I proceed to observe 
(without returning to reasons before given in oppo¬ 
sition to the notion of love being the cause) that 
song is suspended during the time of moulting, 
that during the season of love, song is very generally 
suspended when inclement or rainy weather sud¬ 
denly comes on, that some species give vent to their 
spirits beyond others, and seemingly exert more 
energy in delivering their songs, they apparently 
also are more easily acted on by stimuli than others, 
instances of which w ill appear below 7 , while lastly 
I remark that the winter songs of birds which are 
for the most part the same as those they deliver in 
the spring and summer, are dependent on the 
weather experienced through that season. Mr. Ren¬ 
nie is right in contracting the statement of White, 
that the Redbreast and Wren do not sing in hard 
frost, but even if they do, it seems only to shew their 
superior resistance to want, and greater fortitude 
against suffering, and it would by no means subvert 
facts I can relate respecting other species of winter 
w r arblers. It is clear that Colonel Montagu had 
observed the same facts I am about to state, but 
from their manifest tendency to establish a doctrine 
