48 
BIRD-LIFE. 
Some birds not only take strophes from the songs of 
their own species, but borrow from strangers, and even 
pick np extraneous sounds and noises. The best known 
among these is our mocking-bird, the Melodious Warbler 
(Hippolais) which, however, only imitates singing birds. 
The blue-throated Warbler (Gyanecula Wolfii) intermingles 
with its own some notes and strophes of the songs of the 
Nightingale, Whitethroat, Reed and other Warblers, as 
well as Finches, &c., besides which, however, it has 
many harsh and disagreeable tones. The red-tailed 
blue-throated Warbler (O. suecica), which breeds in 
Lapland, is there called the “ Hundred-tongued,” owing 
to its great imitative capacity. The Jay (Glandarius 
europceus ) is not so fastidious, he thinks the shrill 
scream of the Hawk so beautiful that he tries to imitate 
it; he mimics the Crow and the Magpie, aye, even the 
call of the Capercallie in the breeding-season, in his love 
of mimicry. Our old friend, the Starling, goes even 
farther, inasmuch as he often introduces some nonsense 
or another in his song: this, at any time, is little else 
than sociable chatter, without much sense or meaning, 
though full of mirth and jollity; sooner or later, however, 
he is sure to make a variety of whimsical additions to his 
repertoire. First, the comical fellow will try and whistle 
back the beautiful and rich-toned call of the Golden 
Oriole; then take up the cry of the Kestrel, the Wryneck 
( Yunx ); perhaps, also, catches that of the Rook or 
Jackdaw, until he has learnt almost every bird-call 
within hearing. All that he has already accomplished 
does not suffice; he tries to imitate other sounds and 
noises: lastly, he learns not only to mimic with the 
greatest exactitude the calls of all sorts of animals, but 
the creaking of doors, weather-cocks, carts, the clappers 
