July 20, 191 1] 



NATURE 



97 



flight almost exactly the opposite of that followed by its 

 fellows hatched in Denmark and north-east Germany. 



Mr. J. H. Gurney in the course of his report on Norfolk 

 birds for 1910 (Zoologist for May) alludes to the increas- 

 itv of the corn-crake — which he attributes to the 

 shooting of these birds in the south of France — and like- 

 wise to the recent visitation of crossbills. Most of the 

 latter have departed, but when and where they went is 

 another matter. A crane shot at Thornham in August 

 was one of the rarities. In a note on the food of 

 starlings, the author adduces evidence to prove that these 

 birds are harmful to young wheat and oats, eating the 

 sown grain as, or before, they sprout. On the other 

 hand, they undoubtedly destroy large numbers of noxious 

 insects. 



Among several " Educational Leaflets " received from 

 the American National Association of Audubon Societies, 

 reference may be made to the so-called Virginian quail, 

 or " Bob White " (Colimis virginianus), a bevy of which 

 forms the subject of the illustration here reproduced. The 



A Bevy of C.lifornim Q 



tional Leaflet. 



bird is a valuable asset to the United States, partly on 

 account of the revenues derived from shooting rights and 

 partly owing to the quantity of noxious insects and weeds 

 it destroys. It is estimated that a family of a dozen 

 quail would consume about 800,000 insects and 00,000,000 

 weed-seeds in the course of a year. When reposing, the 

 members of a bevy arrange themselves in a circle with 

 their heads directed outwards, and in such a position, 

 except, of course, when snow lies on the ground, are stated 

 to be almost invisible, even at a very short distance. 



To the June number of British Birds Messrs. Ticehurst 

 and Jourdain contribute an article, illustrated with maps, 

 on the distribution of the nightingale in Great Britain, 

 the subject being treated county by county. As regards 

 the extreme south-western and northern limits of the 

 range of the species, the authors endorse the view that 

 neither in Devonshire nor Yorkshire has there been any 

 extrusion within the period when, if it had occurred, it 

 could be definitely traced. In Yorkshire, nightingales 

 appear to _have bred a century ago as far north as they 

 normally do at the present day, occasional occurrences 



NO. 2177, VOL. 87] 



bevond the usual range having probably occurred in the 

 past in much the same manner as is the case nowadays. 

 It is noteworthy that the range of the bird in Yorkshire 

 is strictly limited to the lowlands, only one instance of 

 its breeding above the 250-feet contour being recorded. 

 The alleged instances of the occurrence of nightingales 

 northward of Yorkshire are regarded as not proven. 



In an article in The Irish Naturalist lor June Mr. 

 R. M. Barrington attributes the great rush of birds 

 observed in the south-east of Ireland during the night of 

 March 29 to a combination of special circumstances affect- 

 ing the ordinary spring migration. Owing to the preva- 

 lence of north-east winds over a great part of Europe, the 

 birds had probably to halt in the south, where they 

 collected in numbers. At Valentia, Pembroke, and the 

 Scilly Islands the wind veered to the south on March 29, 

 although north-east winds continued over the rest of the 

 British Isles. The night was moonless, and after the 

 birds had crossed the Channel they encountered a bank 

 of fog off Ireland, which caused their hosts to become 

 disorganised and attracted first by the lighthouses and 

 then by the lights of the towns. 



Exquisite photographs, of birds and other animals illus- 

 trate a pamphlet on the " Ross Bird-stalker." written by 

 Mr. C. Dixon, and published by Ross, Ltd., New Bond 

 Street. The pamphlet advertises a stereo-prism binocular, 

 stated to be well fitted for the purposes of the field- 

 naturalist. R- L. 



AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY. 1 



THE study of the Chippewa songs and music collected 

 ^ by Miss F. Densmore in Minnesota is of exceptional 

 interest. Every phase of Chippewa life is expressed in 

 music. Many of the songs are very old, and are found in 

 several reservations ; others are said to be the more recent 

 compositions of certain men who composed them " during 

 a dream " or " upon awaking from a dream." It is still 

 customary for the Chippewa to celebrate an important 

 event by a song. None are the exclusive property of 

 families or clans ; a young man does not inherit the right 

 1.. sing his father's songs, but if he likes he may learn 

 them by giving the customary gift of tobacco. As with 

 the songs of the Murray Islanders of Torres Straits, the 

 melody is considered more important than the words. It 

 is permissible and customary to compose new words for 

 old tunes, but they are always similar in general character 

 to the words previously used, the idea being the important 

 thing. Indian songs are not recorded in a definite system 

 of notation, and a standard of absolute exactness is lack- 

 111- ; the melody-trend and the principal rhythm of the 

 song, however, are constant. " Indian music seems to 

 belong to a period in which habit takes the place of scale 

 consciousness. Habit in the choice of musical intervals is 

 formed by following a line of least resistance or by a 

 definite act of the will, or may be the result of both, the 

 voice at first singing the intervals which it finds easiest, 

 and afterward repeating these intervals voluntarily. . . . 

 The present study is not an analysis of fractional tones, 

 but of melodic trend and general musical character ; there- 

 fore the ordinary musical notation is used, with the addition 

 of a few signs in special cases." A vibrato or wavering 

 tone is especially pleasing to the singers ; it is difficult 

 for them to acquire, and is considered a sign of musical 

 proficiency. 



The songs fall into several classes, such as Dream songs. 

 War songs, Love songs, Mocassin-game songs, Woman 's- 

 dance songs, and Mide songs. The Hide (Grand Medicine) 

 is the native religion of the Chippewa. It teaches that 

 long life is coincident with goodness, and that evil in- 

 evitably reacts on the offender. Its chief aim is to secure 

 health and long life to its adherents, and music forms an 

 essential part of every means used to that end. Both men 

 and women are eligible for membership. There are eight 

 degrees, persons being advanced from one degree to another 

 on receiving certain instructions and bestowing valuable 

 gifts. Meetings are held in the spring of each year, but it 

 is permissible to hold initiation meetings in the autumn. 



1 Smithsonian Institution, P.iK.auof American Fthnology. Bullerin 45.— 

 "Chippewa Music." By F. Densmore. Pp. xix+Ji*. Bulletin 37.— 

 "Antiquities of Central and Sonth-Fasiern Missouri." By G. Fowke. 

 Pp. vii-f-i 16. (Washington : Government Printing Office, 15.0). 



