The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-29
NOTABLE EVOLUTION.
PECULIAR MUSICAL DEVELOPMENT
OF The COMMON ROBIN

Is He Likely to Become n Rival OF His
Cousin. tho Catbird?-A Musical Feath-
cred Family-wonderfuI Variations OF
Bird Music.
The remarkable power Of the catbird as
singer is known 20 all those VINO give il a safe
and welcome retreat Yet find even such
writers as Baird describing il after i.is man
ner: "An American bird of the thrush fam
ily, whose cry resembles the mewing OF n
cat" In reality it is the mockiag bird of the
north, possessed OF the ability to sing what
ever notes he hears. have them so perfectly
at home in my grounds, that their delicious
music is hear. ut all hours of the day, and
often in the middle of the night IL is very
curious TO hear one Of them MARBLE in a low
key to himself what some other bird is sng-
ing loudly A few days since heard one
mimic n red squirrel, aud he did 10 TO per
lection. II he had not enjoyed the fun so
well that be could not keep from hopping
about, should not have known which was
squirrel
Ibid not. however, intend, -excep; inc.d-
entaiy, to write about the catbird. Minus
Carolinensis. H. however, makes it easier
for US % conceive the possibility Of al evoiu-
ton Of superior vocalization il his relatives,
when We consider bis mastery ability. What
wish 20 record is remarkable development
in the case of his cousin the common robin,
or migratory thrush. Every ono knows
what a clumsy singer he is, having 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 tue east-a
faint, far away cry: then another cry leaps
out o. a tree nearer you, and then another
and another. so the wave Of .obn melody
moves westward, over the house and over
the land preceding the rising sum- probably
from the Atlantic to the Pacific This song
Is peculiarly adapted to constitute matin
cry, being clear, strong and cordial But it
is not musical
LIKE HUMAN ARTICULATION.
In juno Of 1857, crossing one Of my laws.
| heard a cry SO peculiarly like articulation
that was startled Hear this birdie Hear
this birdiel Hear this pretty birdier' the
last notes being exquisitely rendered, with a
wave and upward bend. had never heard
such song before, and imagined new
species Of bird must have arrived; but after
careful examination, found the singer 70 be
a veritable robin redbreast, and not n new
conner at all The song was repeated all the
summer, 10 the delight Of myself and friends /
OK course, | 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 birdie Hear this BIRDIE" But, better
yet, it was apparent that the babes Of this
family were singing, not the old robins see
saw, but tine 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.
could hear one or more at almost any hour
This drew my attention to the cause Of
tho unexpected variation John Burroughs
suggested that it might be the song taught
to one that had been Gagged and afterward
escaped, but | am more inclined to think that
it is a natural variation or evolution, and
that the robin has great and undevelcped
power. To is a phlegmatic bird. that takes
the world easy, and is not likely 70 exert itself
in new directions The catbird is fond Of
notice, likes 10 be whistled 20 and enjoys
back lie is likely TO develop all
sorts Of new vocal accomplishments But
the rooin is really lazy, and does as little hard
work as possible. His nest isa clumsy affair,
a mere daub Of mud and sticks Why has be
begun this new sonei Is it from being 50
constantly with catbrds, grossbeaks, orioles.
etc Tor my nine acres arc the paradise of
birds. They are covered with fruits, hedges.
trees. DO not know, but believe, some such
cause 10 DO at the bottom Of the affair, end
that we may look for other developments
quite as remarkable.
ANOTHER INTERESTING CASE.
Within tho month Of June, while driving
about five miles from my home, | saw
-obin sitting OH u wayzidc fence AID singing
/ set Of notes most charmingly unlike any
hing | had ever heard; neither was i. az all
ike our birdie. IL was as complex as o cat
)ird often sings, but not apparently imita-
i've. This has led TIC t. q very decided con-
-iction that an evolution IN robin music is
low going or, and that some very delightful
esults r.ay be looked for shall De glad 70
AttNN' II h.it 'A'Ni 81 III Ai---AA - u
be country OF this am certain, that our
ommon thrush has a vas, vocal power I'M
developed. Evolution With birds must move,
IS i has moved in the line Of music, plumage I
nd flight and nest building Nothing IN I
hesc directions need surprise Us
| subjoin a note taken from a paper pub 5
shed near New York city, over 20 miles {
rom here: Thomas O'Douue.l, Of Rondout, ,
as robin which whistles like a mockng ,
ird. This is probably due to the fact that
was raised in company with mocker Tho p,
obin Whistles johnny, get your gun, and
Don't leave your Mother, Toni It's powers
niin.cry are wonderful. In tee early
lorning, when things are quiet, the whistle
I the bird has been heard quarter OF J
nile. One day recently a man went into
aloon over the door OF which the robin hung [
he bird gave II sharp, quick whistle, which
man across the way, seeing his friend enter I
be saloon, considered call TO get free i
rink. The man who first entered the saloon i
enied having whistled, but he nevertheless I
.ood treat l am confirmed by such re-
orts in the belief that we shall see a remark
bic evolution Of robin music. Our home