256 
The Kirmington Deposits. 
section presents unusual features, as for 3 to 4 feet the flints 
have been fractured, presumably by frost, and are all in a 
perpendicular position. This appearance is most marked. 
In the lower section of the gravel it only rarely happens 
that a broken flint occurs. 
It is noteworthy in this section that the boulder clay seems 
to thicken towards the top of the hill. 
A full account of this section, with list of plant remains, 
etc., appears in The Naturalist for January, 1905 (pp. 15-18), 
and in the Report of the British Association issued in the 
same year.— T.S. 
: o 
Songs of the Birds, by Walter Garstang, M.A., D.Sc. John 
Lane, The Bodley Head Limited, 6/- net. 
What song the Sirens sang was a question that stirred the imagination 
of Sir Thomas Browne. In these days we are beginning to realise that 
there are equally stimulating questions closer to hand : for instance, the 
question what songs the birds sing. 
It is true that probably not one in a thousand could distinguish 
between the song of a blackbird arid the song of a thrush ; but it is 
equally true that the number of those who are interested in ‘ nature ’ 
subjects is rapidly increasing. And of the thousands who cannot answer 
the question what songs the birds sing, there are doubtless many who 
would like to be able to do so. Therefore, I anticipate a merry sale 
for Professor Garstang ’s book. 
In his introduction, Professor Garstang says that some naturalists 
have denied the possibility of reproducing in syllabic form the songs of 
birds ; and points out that as regards the more primitive birds — the 
cuckoo, rook, duck, hen, and so on — this has already been done. His 
book is an effort to supply a notation for the outpourings of the more 
aesthetic songsters. Whether or not he has succeeded is for his readers 
to judge. 
My own opinion — speaking as a barbarian and not as a naturalist — 
is that in some cases he has succeeded, and in others he has failed. He 
himself admits that the first necessity is to capture the rhythm of the 
song ; not the tone. The country-folk have already done this in many 
instances. I cannot imagine a combination of syllables that Would 
more' easily identify the song of the yellow-hammer than — 
‘ A little-bit-o’-bread-and-no-chee-eese.’ 
Then there is that delightful story, which the Professor relates, of the 
little- schoolgirl who declared that a certain thrush of her parish was so 
insistent in its calls for ‘ Mrs. Hewitt, Mrs. Hewitt,’ that Mrs. Hewitt 
herself opened her cottage door and answered ‘ Yes ! ’ Who now can 
fail to recognise the song of the thrush ? 
The interpretation of the lark’s song seems very successful ; but we 
barbarians already know what the lark says. I would ask Professor 
Garstang to imagine one of us sitting behind a hedge trying to identify 
a Garden Warbler by means of this little jingle — 
‘ Joo riddy, joo-reedy, joo-riddy, joo-ay-zo ; 
Wayzo, Wayzo, Diddo-deroo.’ 
I fancy we should sit, and sit, and sit. 
All the same, this book forms an excellent introduction to a fascinating 
subject. Mr. J. A. Shepherd’s illustrations lend the book such a charm 
that I cannot imagine any naturalist not buying it.— E. Appleton. 
Naturalist 
