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COMMENTS ON ‘THE BIRD FANCYER'S DELIGHT’: TOGETHER WITH NOTES ON IMITATION IN THE SUB‐SONG OF THE CHAFFINCH.
Author(s) -
Thorpe W. H.
Publication year - 1955
Publication title -
ibis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1474-919X
pISSN - 0019-1019
DOI - 10.1111/j.1474-919x.1955.tb01911.x
Subject(s) - imitation , canto , history , art , psychology , literature , social psychology
Summary The ‘Bird Fancyer's Delight’ (1717) is considered in the light of modern knowledge of the process of song‐learning in birds. Some conclusions (if Baron von Pernau (1716) as to song imitation are also discussed. A new example of the ability of the Chaffinch to incorporate song phrases from other species into its sub‐song is given. It is suggested that there is an important difference between its true song and its sub‐song in this respect and that this difference may throw light on the ability of some other finches to learn alien songs.