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Quotation from The Natural History of Selborne by Gilbert White
“No two birds can differ more in their notes, and that constancy, than those two that I am acquainted with; for the one has a joyous, easy, laughing note; the other a harsh loud chirp”
The Natural History of Selborne, To Pennant, Letter XVI (1789 text)
White separates birds then lumped together as one species by their songs, an observation later confirmed as distinguishing the willow warbler from the chiffchaff.
Citation: "No two birds can differ more in their notes, and that constancy, than those two that I am acquainted with; for the one has a joyous, easy, laughing note; the other a harsh loud chirp" — Gilbert White, The Natural History of Selborne, To Pennant, Letter XVI (1789 text). (id the-natural-history-of-selborne-q7)
Portrait: White's Selborne 1813 title page (detail), Gilbert White, Public domain.
