300 Recent Literature. [ April 



portion of the text of the Coucal remaining to be completed, so that the 

 next part after considering the Lyre Bird will begin the Passeres. 



The present number treats of the genera Cacomantis, Vidgenia, Owenavis, 

 Chalcites, Lamprococcyx, Eudynamis, Scythrops and Polophilus. The most 

 interesting species among these is the giant " Channel-bill," Scythrops, 

 which lays its eggs in the nests of Crows and Crow-Shrikes, birds of about 

 its own size. It has a remarkably loud call and is often active at night, 

 resembling in the latter particular our American Black-billed Cuckoo, 

 while curiously enough its appearance is considered to indicate approach- 

 ing storms and it is known as " Stormbird " and " Rainbird " just as our 

 own Cuckoos are named " Rain Crows." Further investigation of the 

 origin of this belief would be well worth while for those interested in the 

 " folk-lore " of ornithology. There are eleven plates of the various species 

 and one of the tails of Bronze Cuckoos, all by Gronvold, and among the 

 best that have appeared. 



We notice one new genus, Vidgenia (p. 327), type Cuculus castaneiventris 

 Goidd, and one new race Cacomantis pyrrhophanvs vidgeni (p. 326). — W. S. 



De Fenis on Bird Song in its Relation to Music. — This paper 1 

 is one of the most important and carefully prepared contributions to the 

 study of bird song that has recently appeared. M. de Fenis has considered 

 his subject systematically, under various headings and the results of his 

 investigations are summed up in his conclusion that " The laws of musical 

 development are the same for the music of man as for the song of birds," 

 which corresponds essentially with Mr. Henry Oldys' views on the subject. 



The topics which are discussed in the paper are: song of birds in its rela- 

 tion to habits and habitat; difficulties encountered in the notation of bird 

 song; birds which repeat their song regularly; birds which vary their 

 melody but preserve the same rhythm; birds which imitate; birds which 

 improvise. 



Many musical and syllabic representations of songs are presented showing 

 some original methods of notation, and illustrating the variation in the 

 song of a single species, especially of the Wren and the Nightingale. An 

 interesting table also shows the relative pitch of the songs of various species 

 of birds in comparison with the range oi the human voice and other sounds. 

 In this there seems to be a fairly regular correspondence between the weight 

 of the bird and the pitch of the voice; the highest notes belonging to the 

 smallest and lightest birds. 



Those interested in this fascinating subject, which demands consider- 

 able musical as well as ornithological knowledge, will do well to read M. 

 de Fenis's valuable paper. — W. S. 



1 Contribution a L'Etude des Cris et Chant des Oiseux dans ses Rapports avec la Musique. 

 par M. F. de Fenis. Bull. Institut General Psychologique July-December, 1917, pp. 87- 

 130. Paris, at the Office of the Society, 143 Boulevard St. Michel. 



