The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-05-21
Bobolink VS.. Canaries.

TO distinguish its notes from those o' ms
bird.-Lo,ceH Courier.
BoboIink VS.. Canaries.
A curious circumstance. quite aside
from the ordinary dictates Of instinct,
occurred IN the case Of a yosng bobo-
link in the family of Rev. J. w. Tur-
ner, of Great Darlington, Mas. He
was Gagged at first apart from pair o.
canaries, which were in another cage III
the same room. The bobolink never
sang a, all from June to December, until
lie was permitted TO share in the same
cage The civiliies and sympalhles OF his
neighbors, the canaries. who had been
so long entertaining him with their sweet
and unwearied strains. When admitted
to the same cage with them. he tried
most assiduously to learn their song. AZ
first, however, for long time, with mrs.
erable success enough. He would stand
and watch them with an agony Of atten-
ton. and then ivy TO initiate their notes.
lie would swell out his throat, and stretch
up his neck as they did, and then, with
violent effort. ny 10 sound one note,
which, in spite Of all his zeal and labor,
proved TO be mere rough scream. AZ
this humiiating failure, he would be so
provoked and enraged, tina, he would fly
at his inuffepsve and well-meaning
mates, and teachers, and peck them un-
mercifully, and drive them from their
perch.
So he did for two or three weeks, be-
fore any apparent progress was made in
his studies. But his perseverance was
equal to the difficulties he had to over
come. At length he could sound one
note well, and only one. And so he
continued for some six weeks longer,
learning one note at a time, ill he had
finally completed the whole canary song
and could sing it IN perfection. Then
he would sing it with them in perfect
harmony and perfect time, always clos
ing al the exact note with them.
1t is little singular that, although.
through all his training, he was never
known to begin 10 make a sound, ill the
canarles had first struck the key note.
yet, after he had acquired the skill Ia
sing their song, he must always now give
the signal by a significant eluek when.
instantly, the canaries. generously for
getting and forgiving bis iormer incIv'l-
tiles, would strike in whh him, and per-
form the piece with the greatest perlec-
tion, and with the highest delight 10
themselves and the listening family, who
enjoyed this singular concert through
The early part of every day for the whole
summer.
II is also worthy Of remark, that lhi,
successful essayist in fureign music was
never known 10 inter a note in his na-
tive tongue, I'LL he had mastered the
canary. Then. after few weeks. when
he found himself something Of an inde>
pendent singer. and capable, as he
thought, Of leading the choir, he at last
yentured To go with the chorus and at
temp, his own native melody. In his
frs. attempts at the solo, it was most
diverting to hear him in the confused
noies--Part in his native boboliuk, and
part in cauary--iill al length he was able
to expel all foreign elements from his
style. aud sing only the pure bobolink
Having now succeeded in this, he
proposed To the eanaries 10 Try The cho'
rus again. and gave the "tLuek" when
the canaries. instant 10 the sign. started
! of singing their own native song. But
not so the boboink he threw himself
on his " reserved rights aud sung bob
J olins and so they have continued 70