1919O Recently published Ornithological Works. 773 



gives us an intcrestiug and connected account of the obser- 

 vations of numerous field-naturalists made chiefly on the 

 western front. The remarkable indifference of almost all 

 the birds to heavy bombardment, and even to poison-gas, 

 is the principal fact brought out in these chapters. In face 

 of this, the statement made by a French naturalist (quoted 

 in Chapter iv.) that migrating birds departed from their 

 usual routes seems a little surprising. The birds in northern 

 Europe could hardly liave known what was taking place in 

 the narrow strip of territory where the guns were booming 

 and over which they were wont to pass on their journey 

 south. If the migratory movement coincided with a terrific 

 bombardment, the tendency of the birds would surely be to 

 mount to a higher altitude as they approached the danger 

 zone^ and thus to cross the lines unobserved, probably at night. 

 The reviewer passed 28 consecutive months on the lines of 

 communication in France and Flanders, and allowing for 

 his limited opportunities of bird-observation, he formed the 

 opinion that ordinary migration was little interfered Avith. 



In the last section of this little book, a tribute is paid to 

 those ornithologists who gave their lives in the service of 

 the country. 



"Birds and the War" contains much interesting in- 

 formation which it must have cost the author considerable 

 time and patience to compile and produce in such a readable 

 form. D. A. B. 



Misses Haviland and Pitt on habits of the Song-Thrush. 



[The selection of Helix nemoralis hj the Song-Thrush [Turdus 

 musicus). By Maud D. Haviland and Frances Pitt. Ann. Mag. N. H. 

 (9)iii. 1919, pp. 525-531.] 



The habit of the Song-Thrush of breaking the shells of 

 snails on a stone or '* anvil " is well known, and it had been 

 suggested by Mr. A. E. Truman in a previous paper that in 

 the case of the very variably coloured Helix nemoralis, Song- 

 Thrushes might exercise a selective action as the more con- 

 spicuous or more palatable varieties would be most generally 

 taken. Miss Haviland made two series of experiments — 



SER. XI. VOL I. .'3 H 



