24 NOVEMBER 1944, Page 14

Sensitive Birds

The other day a remote but quite audible explosion in the small hours was followed by a loud and general chattering among birds. It was remarkable that on this occasion the protest was not. shared by the pheasants, which on abundant evidence are singularly responsive to certain noises: often they show themselves sensitive to sounds scarcely appreciated by human ears. The idea seems to be that their gift is that of the piano-tuner, who judges not by sound in the ordinary sense, but by a more direct perception of vibration. However, on the occasion under discussion, the small birds seemed to be disturbed by the noise.