, 1888-09-23
NOTABLE EVOLUTION.
PECULIAR MUSICAL DEVELOPMENT
OF THE coMMou ROBIN

cred Famny-wonderfuI Variations OF
Bird Music.
Tho remarkable power of the catbird as a
singer is known to all those who give it a safe
and welcome retreat. Yet l find even such
writers as Baird describing it after this man
ner: A American bird of the thrush fam
lily, whose cry resembles the mewing of a
cat In reality it is the hooking bird of the
north, possessed of the ability to sing what
ever notes he hears. Ihave them so perfectly
at home in my grounds, that their delicious
music is heard at all hours of the day, and
often in the middle of the night. 1t is very
curious to hear one of them MARBLE in a low
key to himself what some other bird is sing
ing loudly. A few days since 1 heard one
mimic a red squirrel, and he did 1t to per-
lection. If he had not enjoyed the fun SO
well that he could not keep from hopping
about, 1 should not have known which was
squirrel.
did not, however, intend, except incid-
entally, to write about the catbird, Minus
Carolinensis. 1t, however, makes it easier
for us to conceive the possibility of an evolu-
ton Of superior vocalization in his relatives,
when we consider his mastery ability. What
1 wish to record is a remarkable development
In the case of his cousin the common robin,
or migratory thrush. Every one knows
what a clumsy singer he is, having a rough,
see saw note, that he repeats with little vari-
alton. For some reason the other birds give
him precedence in the morning song with
which daylight is greeted about $3.50 in June.
The first note comes always from the east-a
faint, far away cry: then another cry leaps
out of a tree nearer you, and then another
and another. So the wave of robin melody
moves westward, over the house and over
the land, preceding the rising sun, probably
from tha Atlantic tn the Pacific This cono
is peculiarly adapted to constitute a matin
cry, being clear, strong and cordial. But it
is not musical
LIKE HUMAN ARTICULATION.
In June of 1887, crossing one of my lawns,
l heard n cry SO peculiarly like articulation
that l was startled: "Hear this birdiei Hear
this birdiel Hear this pretty birdieI' the
last notes being exquisitely rendered, with n
wave and upward bend. Ihad never heard
such n song before, and imagined q new
species of bird must have arrived; but after
careful examination, 1 found the singer to be
a veritable robin redbreast, and not a new
conner at all The song was repeated all the
summer, to the delight OF myself and friends.
OF course, l awaited the opening Of spring
with anxiety, to Know if our birdie would re-
turn. Almost the first song of spring, sure
enough, was one morning in April: Hear
this birdieI Hear this birdieIn But, better
yet, it was apparent that the babes of this
family were singing, not the old robins see
saw, but the new song. And now about my
place are three or four of our brides. What
was notable was not only the remarkable
evolution of musical power, but a love for
music; for our birdie, unlike the robins in
general, sang all day, like the catbirds. l
could hear one or more at almost any hour.
This drew my attention to the cause Of
the unexpected variation. John Burroughs
suggested that it might be the song taught
to one that had been Gagged and afterward
escaped; but l am more inclined to think that
it is a natural variation or evolution, and
that the robin has great and undeveloped
power. 1t is a phlegmatic bird, that takes
the world easy, and is not likely to exert itself
in new directions. The catbird is fond of
notice, likes to be whistled to and enjoys
answering back. He is likely to develop all
sorts of new vocal accomplishments. But
the robin is really lazy, and does as little hard
work as possible. His nest is a clumsy affair,
a mere daub of mud and sticks. Why has he
begun this new songl Is it from being so
constantly with catbirds, grossbeaks, orioles,
etc for my nine acres are the paradise of
birds. They are covered with fruits, hedges,
trees. l do not know, but believe, some such
cause to be at the bottom of the affair, and
that we may look for other developments
quite as remarkable.
ANOTHER CASE.
Within the month of June, while driving
about five miles from my home, 1 saw q
robin sitting on a wayside fence and singing
a set of notes most charmingly unlike any
thing l had ever heard; neither was it at all
like our birdie. 1t was as complex as q cat
bird often sings, but not apparently imita-
tive. This has led me to a very decided con-
viction that an evolution in robin music is
now going on, and that some very delightful
results may be looked for. shall be glad to
get notes from Observers in different parts of
the country. OF this | am certain, that our
common thrush has a vast vocal power I'M
developed. Evolution with birds must move,
as 1T has moved in the line of music, plumage
and flight and nest building. Nothing in
these directions need surprise US.
l subjoin a note taken from n paper pub
lished near New York city, over 200 miles
from here: ''Thomas O'Donnell, of Rondout,
has a robin which whistles like a hooking
bird. This is probably due to the fact that
1t was raised in company with a mocker. Tho
robin whistles Johnny, get your gum and
Don't leave your Mother, TomI Its powers
of mimicry are wonderful In the early
morning, when things are quiet, the whistle
of the bird has been heard a quarter OF a
mile. One day recently a man went into a
saloon over the door of which the robin hung.
The bird gave a sharp, quick whistle, which
a man across the way, seeing his friend enter
the saloon, considered a call to get q free
drink. The man who FIRST entered the saloon
denied having whistled, but he nevertheless
stood treat" l am confirmed by such re-
ports in the belief that we shall see a remark
able evolution OF robin music. Our home
stead pet and universal favorite will then be
all the more dear.-E. P. Powell in Science.
Memories of the jackson Ball"
4 local confectionery WAS nsked tho nthnr