On the voice of birds.

  • Duncan, Philip Bury, 1772-1863.
Date:
[between 1830 and 1839?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the voice of birds. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    dreadful battles ensue, and their notes are consi- derably changed ; sometimes their song is hurried through without their usual grace and elegance ; at other times modulated into a soothing melody. The first we conceive to be a provocation to battle on the sight of another male ; the last an amorous ca- dence, a courting address. This variety of song lasts no longer than till the female is fixed in the choice, which is in general a few days after her ar- rival. The male now no more exposes himself to sing as before, nor are his songs heard so frequent or so loud; but whilst she is searching for a secure place to nidificate in, he is no less assiduous in at- tending her with ridiculous gestures, accompanied with notes peculiarly soft. After incubation the “ are commonly varied in their succession with such judgment, “ as to produce a very pleasing variety. The bird that ap- “ proaclies nearest to the excellence of the nightingale, in this “ respect, is the sky-lark; but then the tone is infinitely in- “ ferior in point of mellowness: most other birds have not “ above four or five changes. The next point of superiority in a “ nightingale is its continuance of song without a pause, which “ I have observed to be not less than twenty seconds. Wlien- “ ever respiration, however, becomes necessary, it was taken “ with as much judgment as by an opera singer. “ The sky-lark in this particular too is only second to the | “ nightingale. Some excel others, not only in tone and va- “ riety, but in judgment and taste, and begin their song like “ the ancient orators, reserving their breath to swell certain “ notes, which by this means has a most astonishing effect, and “ exceeds all verbal description. Our European birds are su- 1“ perior in song to all those of the East, and Thompson says “ that this is a compensation for the comparative dulness of “ their plumage.” Barrington.