THE VOICE. 
41 
more flexible than that of the female; it is, also, usually 
of a higher compass than hers. 
Birds of different species often prattle together in the 
most winning manner. The chatter of a Magpie is 
manifestly much more like a gabble than a song, even 
though the male has the louder say. There are, however, 
many birds which can converse much more fully. The 
male and female grass Parakeet (Melopsittacus undulatus ) 
chirp together and caress each other in the prettiest way 
imaginable. With the Wryneck ( Yunx torquilla ) the two 
sexes answer one another regularly. In some species 
male and female often join their song in one cadence. 
While roaming the primaeval forests of the interior of 
Africa, I have heard with astonishment the full rich¬ 
sounding thrill of the red-breasted Shrike ( Lanius 
erythrogaster ), one of the most gorgeous birds of the 
Upper Nile ; but on each occasion it was accompanied by 
a disagreeable rattling noise, such as we are accustomed 
to hear from our Golden Oriole. It was only quite by 
accident that I learnt that these flute-like tones were 
whistled by the male only, while the female, with her 
rattle, kept up a regular accompaniment, artistically and 
in good time, like a well-trained musician. Of the truth 
of this observation I have often satisfied myself; for I 
have sometimes shot the male of a pair first, after 
which I have only heard the rattle; and, again, I 
have shot the female first, and then have heard the 
whistle only. We find the same combination occurring 
between the two sexes of a cousin of the above 
([Telephonus cethiopicus), a Shrike inhabiting Abyssinia; 
the female completes the strophe of the male, the 
two together forming a beautiful flute-like sound. The 
domestic Goose, with the well-known “ gik,” “gak,” 
G 
