Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/443

Rh when it begins early in August?), I can only regret that Mr. Aplin was here less careful than usual in expressing his meaning. Unfortunately for me, Mr. Aplin, while not in the least minding my attempting to correct him, found it impossible to believe that I had supposed him ignorant of the singing of the Robin and Starling early in August. But that is just what an ornithologist of repute might overlook. To take a similar instance: How many generations have observed the Swift! Yet, how many scientists will admit its night-flight as a fact? The mimicry of wild Lark and Thrush: how long has it been admitted? It may be denied that the latter mimics the Crow or Land Rail, for its pipe is not suited to coarse cries; but its general mimicry is bound to be admitted sooner or later.

The only previous letter I had received from Mr. Aplin described the wonderful mimicry of a bird which was carefully identified as a Sedge Warbler. But Mr. Warde Fowler told me that in the opinion of the listener the bird ultimately resolved itself into a Marsh Warbler.

Returning to autumn songs. I heard the Wren and Robin nearly every morning from July 7th to August 15th; but not once the Chiffchaff. That bird has a true autumn song, though only one or two here and there indulge in it.

As to the Willow Wren, I have made careful observations on every day but two from June 1st to August 19th. Those two days were cold and wet, so probably there was then nothing to observe. In June and July I observed at morning and evening. My opportunities were easy. In front of my cottage is a small meadow, flanked on two sides by a dense thicket, so I have only to open a window to hear the birds. In the back garden I am within hearing of two other thickets. I pass three others on my way to the railway station, which I reach by nine o'clock.

The Willow Wren has this interesting feature (due perhaps to pugnacity), that when one begins to sing, another will begin almost at the same moment; and when many are in song at the same spot, their successive descending songs make a sort of "chiming," very sweet to hear. I do not know any other bird with this habit. In May the chiming can be heard all day. I am sending a copy of my notes to the Editor, and will here only summarize them.