tfte PsycWc nature of Bird Sons. 
BY MORTON E. PECK. 
Paper read before the Third Congress of the I. O. A. 
F all the errors regarding the habits and natures of birds, none is 
more prevalent than the total misconception of the real character 
of their songs and the articulate sounds which they produce. The mis¬ 
take is easily accounted for. A degree of similarity existing between their 
notes and the human voice and some musical instrument, when producing 
sounds expressive of certain mental states, has lead men in all times, fol¬ 
lowing an aesthetic rather than scientific impulse, to fancy them indica¬ 
tive of the same feelings as those which inspire spontaneous human song. 
A glance at the position occupied by birds in the vertebrate series and the 
examination of a few facts regarding their vocal expression will be suffi¬ 
cient to show how improbable it is that these are the outcome of any very 
complex psychic phenomena. 
The natural position of birds is between the Reptilia and Mammalia. 
In the circulatory and respiratory system, including bodily temperature, 
they are much uearer the mammals ; but on the other hand their organs 
of reproduction closely resemble those of the reptiles, and what is still 
more important in the present instance they have the lissencephalous rep¬ 
tilian brain. It is clear therefore that their mental faculties must be far 
below those of the quadrupeds, and will not pass far beyond the line of 
protective and reproductive instincts. 
The songs and cries of birds are very generally supposed to indicate 
grief, joy, love, hate, anger, triumph, regret, and many other feelings of 
a more or less complex character. It is during the mating season that 
their vocal powers are exercised to their fullest, and hence the songs, no¬ 
tably of passrine birds, are supposed to express sentiments of joy and af¬ 
fection. Several facts may be cited which will show the improbability of 
such a theory. In the first place why should not the song continue till 
after the young are hatched, at which period paternal pride and affection 
would naturally be the strongest, instead, of gradually ceasing as incuba¬ 
tion advances? Again, if a nest is broken up and replaced by another, 
there is another reason of song, though no new mating, nor have we rea¬ 
son to think there is any special revival of joy or affection. And further, 
many song birds, some of which utter a great variety of cries will sing 
under the stress of any very strong excitement. I have observed a Batbird 
that had accidentally made its way into a room full of people singing with 
the accompaniment of a piano, after vainly seeking a way of escape, break 
into song, and continue singing for some time in a perfectly normal tone 
