The Evolution of Bird-song

Abstract

THIS little work will be heartily welcomed by all ornithologists as the first elaborate attempt to deal in a scientific spirit with the very difficult subject of the utterances of birds. Considering the great amount of careful observation necessary to the formation of any theory on the subject, and the difficulty of recording such observation correctly and intelligibly, Mr. Witchell is to be warmly congratulated on his book. It is, in fact, a very welcome and agreeable call-note, addressed to h brethren of the craft, and urging them to come and test the flavour of the food its author has discovered. Should any of them be critical of details, as indeed in such a subject they inevitably must be, it is to be hoped that the call-note will not change into an “alarm”; for however much we may differ from Mr. Witchell in detail, we shall hardly be disposed to quarrel with the main line of his argument, and we shall be grateful to him for his work as a pioneer. Personally I am glad to acknowledge that during the present season of song I have derived the greatest benefit from this book, which fortunately appeared at the very time when fresh observation was most easy and agreeable.

The Evolution of Bird-song.

By Charles A. Witchell. Pp. x + 348. (London: A. and C. Black, 1896.)