bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Living with a long‐term urinary catheter: older people’s experiences
Authors: Godfrey Helen
Published: April 2008

Title.  Living with a long‐term urinary catheter: older people’s experiences.

Aim.  This paper is a report of a study of the experiences of older people living with a long‐term urinary catheter and the development of a substantive theory grounded in their realities.

Background.  Understanding the user perspective is a prerequisite for involving older people in a collaborative relationship with healthcare professionals which is built around their needs and wishes. Older people’s views and experiences of the complexity of living with a long‐term catheter have not been widely researched. An enhanced understanding of catheter users’ perspectives and an awareness of their needs can be used to improve care.

Method.  A grounded theory approach was adopted and 20 in‐depth interviews were carried out in England in 2005 and 2006 with 13 older people living at home with long‐term urinary catheters.

Findings.  The core category ‘all about acceptance’ described older people’s adjustment to living with a long‐term urinary catheter; the two categories ‘at ease’ and ‘uneasy’ reflect the extremes of contentment experienced. Three interlinking categories of ‘trying to understand’, ‘judging catheter performance’ and ‘being aware of the catheter’ shaped older people’s relationships with their catheters and this was mediated by their ‘interaction with others’. The consequences for older people fluctuated along a continuum from ‘engaging actively’ to experiencing ‘downbeat sentiments’.

Conclusion.  To assist older people to adjust to living with a catheter, healthcare professionals must be sensitive to their life situations and individual needs rather than focusing predominantly on catheter performance and complications.
Practice nurses and the facilitation of self‐management in primary care
Authors: Macdonald Wendy , Rogers Anne , Blakeman Tom , Bower Peter
Published: April 2008

Title.  Practice nurses and the facilitation of self‐management in primary care.

Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to explore practice nurse involvement in facilitation of self‐management for long‐term conditions.

Background.  In the United Kingdom chronic disease services have shifted from secondary care to general practice and from general practitioners to practice nurses. A new United Kingdom General Practice contract requires adherence to chronic disease management protocols, and facilitating self‐management is recognized as an important component. However, improving self‐management is a relatively new focus and little is known about the ways in which nurses engage with patient self‐management and how they view work with patients in chronic disease clinics.

Method.  Semi‐structured interviews with 25 practice nurses were carried out in 2004–2005. Interviews were audio‐taped and transcribed verbatim. Analysis was informed by the ‘trajectory model’ and ‘personal construct’ theories.

Findings.  Main themes in the early stages of work with patients were: categorization of patients, diagnosis, and patient education. First impressions appeared to determine expectations of self‐management abilities, although these were amenable to change. Intermediate stages were ‘ways of working’ (breaking the task down, cognitive restructuring and addressing dissonance, modelling ‘good’ behaviour, encouragement, listening, involving carers and referral) and maintaining relationships with patients. However, in the longer‐term nurses seemed to lack resources beyond personal experience and intuitive ways of working for encouraging effective self‐care.

Conclusion.  The ways of working identified are unlikely to be sufficient to support patients’ self‐management, pointing to a need for education to equip nurses with techniques to work effectively with patients dealing with longer‐term effects of chronic illness.
Power and empowerment in nursing: a fourth theoretical approach
Authors: Bradbury‐Jones Caroline , Sambrook Sally , Irvine Fiona
Published: April 2008

Title.  Power and empowerment in nursing: a fourth theoretical approach.

Aim.  This paper is a discussion of the use of poststructuralism as a means of exploring power and empowerment in nursing.

Background.  Power and empowerment are well‐researched areas of nursing practice, but the issue of how to empower nurses and patients continues to cause debate. Power and empowerment are complex issues and other researchers have provided some clarity by proposing three theoretical approaches: critical social theory, organizational theory and social psychological theory. We support their work and propose an additional poststructural approach as a means of analyzing power and empowerment in nursing.

Discussion.  The concept of power in nursing may be critiqued by drawing on the work of Michel Foucault and paying particular attention to two areas: disciplinary power and knowledge/power relationships. Foucault’s contention was that behaviour is standardized through disciplinary power and that power and knowledge are intertwined. Nurses who seek an understanding of empowerment must first grasp such workings as hierarchical observation, normalizing judgement, the examination, and power/knowledge relationships, and that cognizance of such issues can promote nursing practice that is empowering. They need to adopt a more critical stance to understanding power and empowerment in nursing, and one way of fostering such criticism is to view nursing practice through a poststructural lens.

Conclusion.  A poststructural approach merits a place alongside other approaches to understanding power and empowerment in nursing.
Multi‐faceted palliative care intervention: aged care nurses’ and care assistants’ perceptions and experiences
Authors: Phillips Jane L. , Davidson Patricia M. , Jackson Debra , Kristjanson Linda J.
Published: April 2008

Title.  Multi‐faceted palliative care intervention: aged care nurses’ and care assistants’ perceptions and experiences.

Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to describe residential aged care nurses’ and care assistants’ perceptions of a multi‐faceted palliative care intervention to identify potential areas to be addressed during subsequent action research phases.

Background.  Action research was used to enhance the delivery of a palliative approach in residential aged care. The chronic care model guided the development of a multi‐faceted intervention. This involved the: (1) establishment of a ‘link nurse’ role; (2) learning and development strategies for nurses, care assistants and general practitioners; (3) use of multi‐disciplinary team meetings; and (4) access to specialist consultation.

Method.  A purposive sample (n = 28) of aged care nurses and care assistants participated in a series of four focus groups conducted in July 2005. Thematic content analysis of the transcripts was performed.

Findings.  Four themes emerged: (1) targeted education can make a difference; (2) a team approach is valued; (3) clinical assessment tools are helpful; and (4) using the right language is essential. Participants described increased understanding of palliative care concepts, enhanced competencies, greater confidence to deliver palliative care and a desire to adopt a multi‐disciplinary approach to care planning.

Conclusion.  Sustaining a culture that is committed to ongoing learning and development interventions and creating multi‐disciplinary teams in the aged care setting is critical to embedding a palliative approach. The chronic care model is a useful framework to guide the development of interventions leading to better palliative care outcomes for residents and their families.
Association of obesity and insulin resistance with asthma and aeroallergen sensitization
Authors: Husemoen L. L. N. , Glümer C. , Lau C. , Pisinger C. , Mørch L. S. , Linneberg A.
Published: April 2008

Background:  It has been hypothesized that obesity and insulin resistance may play a role in the development of asthma and allergy. The aim of the study was to examine the association of obesity and insulin resistance with asthma and aeroallergen sensitization.

Methods:  Cross‐sectional population‐based study of 3609 Danish men and women aged 30–60 years. Aeroallergen sensitization was defined as positive levels of specific IgE against a panel of inhalant allergens. Asthma was defined as self‐reported physician diagnosed asthma. Allergic asthma was defined as the presence of both asthma and aeroallergen sensitization. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance was used to estimate the degree of insulin resistance. Body mass index, waist‐to‐hip ratio, and waist circumference were used as measures of obesity. Data were analyzed by multiple logistic regression analyses.

Results:  Obesity was associated with increased risk of aeroallergen sensitization as well as allergic and nonallergic asthma. Insulin resistance was asssociated with aeroallergen sensitization and allergic asthma, but not nonallergic asthma. The associations of obesity with aeroallegen sensitization and allergic asthma became nonsignificant after adjustment for insulin resistance, whereas the association of obesity with nonallergic asthma was unaffected. No sex‐differences were observed.

Conclusion:  Obesity may be related to an increased risk of aeroallergen sensitization and allergic asthma through mechanisms also involved in the development of insulin resistance.
Lymphotoxin alpha LTA+496C allele is a risk factor for periodontitis in patients with coronary artery disease
Authors: Palikhe A. , Lokki M.‐L. , Pussinen P. J. , Paju S. , Ahlberg J. , Asikainen S. , Seppänen M. , Valtonen V. , Nieminen M. S. , Sinisalo J.
Published: April 2008

Periodontitis and coronary artery disease (CAD) are inflammatory diseases and associated with each other. The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region carries genes involved in immune response and inflammation. We investigated whether the MHC genes correlate with the presence of periodontitis or with the occurrence of periodontal pathogens in patients with CAD. Blood and saliva samples from CAD patients (n = 106) were collected at the time of hospitalization. Nine MHC genetic markers [human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐A, HLA‐B, HLA‐DRB1, lymphotoxin alpha (LTA) +253(a/g), +496(C/T), +633(c/g), +724(C/A), C4A and C4B)] were typed. Based on panoramic tomography, patients were categorized into nonperiodontitis and periodontitis groups. Two major periodontal pathogens, Aggregatibacter (Actinobacillus) actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis, were cultivated and polymerase chain reaction‐amplified from salivary samples. Serum immunoglobulin (Ig)A and IgG antibody levels to these pathogens were measured. In the univariate analysis, LTA+496C allele (OR = 5.29; 95% CI = 2.07–13.51, P = 0.00027), and the occurrence of P. gingivalis in saliva (OR = 4.74; 95% CI = 1.64–13.70; P = 0.002) were more frequent in periodontitis when compared with nonperiodontitis. Similarly, serum IgA antibody level against the pathogen was increased in periodontitis (P = 0.048). In the multiple logistic regression analysis, when a wide range of covariates was included, the LTA+496C allele (OR = 10.87; 95% CI = 3.23–36.60; P = 0.00012) and the elevated serum IgA antibody level against P. gingivalis (OR = 1.56; 95% CI = 1.05–2.30; P = 0.026) remained as significant risk factors for periodontitis. In conclusion, the major finding of this study is that the LTA+496C allele is associated with periodontitis in patients with CAD.
Role of Nitrogen and Gibberellin (GA3) in the Regulation of Enzyme Activities and in Osmoprotectant Accumulation in Brassica juncea L. under Salt Stress
Authors: Siddiqui M. H. , Khan M. N. , Mohammad F. , Khan M. M. A.
Published: April 2008

Salt stress alters a wide array of plant metabolic mechanisms. Different strategies of the application of nutrients and phytohormones are required to overcome the adverse effects of salt stress. The main objective of the present study was to determine if added nitrogen (N) and gibberellin (GA3) in growth medium could alleviate the adverse effects of salt stress on plant metabolism. Two‐week‐old plants were fed with: (i) 0 mm NaCl + 0 mg N kg−1 sand + 0 m GA3 (control), (ii) 100 mm NaCl + 0 mg N kg−1 sand + 0 m GA3, (iii) 0 mm NaCl + 40 mg N kg−1 sand + 0 m GA3, (iv) 0 mm NaCl + 0 mg N kg−1 sand + 10−5 m GA3, (v) 100 mm NaCl + 40 mg N kg−1 sand + 0 m GA3, (vi) 100 mm NaCl + 0 mg N kg−1 sand + 10−5 m GA3, (vii) 100 mm NaCl + 40 mg N kg−1 sand + 10−5 m GA3. Growth and physio‐biochemical attributes i.e. shoot length, leaf area, fresh weight, dry weight, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, malondialdehyde concentration, electrolyte leakage, total chlorophyll concentration, nitrate reductase and carbonic anhydrase activities, proline and glycinebetaine concentration, leaf – N, potassium (K) and sodium (Na) concentration and K/Na ratio were affected by NaCl treatment. But application of N or GA3 alone as well as in combination proved beneficial in alleviating the adverse effects of salt stress on these growth and physio‐biochemical parameters. However, N applied with GA3 proved more effective than N and GA3 applied alone. The results revealed that combined application of N and GA3 may ameliorate most of the attributes and prove to be a physiological remedy to increase the tolerance against the ill effects of salt stress in Brassica.
Bayesian Estimation and Selection of Nonlinear Vector Error Correction Models: The Case of the Sugar‐Ethanol‐Oil Nexus in Brazil
Authors: Balcombe Kelvin , Rapsomanikis George
Published: April 2008

Nonlinear adjustment toward long‐run price equilibrium relationships in the sugar‐ethanol‐oil nexus in Brazil is examined. We develop generalized bivariate error correction models that allow for cointegration between sugar, ethanol, and oil prices, where dynamic adjustments are potentially nonlinear functions of the disequilibrium errors. A range of models are estimated using Bayesian Monte Carlo Markov Chain algorithms and compared using Bayesian model selection methods. The results suggest that the long‐run drivers of Brazilian sugar prices are oil prices and that there are nonlinearities in the adjustment processes of sugar and ethanol prices to oil price but linear adjustment between ethanol and sugar prices.
Curbing Agricultural Exceptionalism: The EU's Response to External Challenge
Authors: Daugbjerg Carsten , Swinbank Alan
Published: April 2008

From 1948 to 1994, the agricultural sector was afforded special treatment in the GATT. We analyse the extent to which this agricultural exceptionalism was curbed as a result of the GATT Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture, discuss why it was curbed and finally explore the implication of this for EU policy making. We argue that, in particular, two major changes in GATT institutions brought about restrictions on agricultural exceptionalism. First, the Uruguay Round was a ‘single undertaking’ in which progress on other dossiers was contingent upon an outcome on agriculture. The EU had keenly supported this new decision rule in the GATT. Within the EU this led to the MacSharry reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in 1992, paving the way for a trade agreement on agriculture within the GATT. Second, under the new quasi‐judicial dispute settlement procedure, countries are expected to bring their policies into conformity with WTO rules or face retaliatory trade sanctions. This has brought about a greater willingness on the part of the EU to submit its farm policy to WTO disciplines.
Hard X‐ray micro(spectro)scopy: A powerful tool for the geomicrobiologists
Authors: KEMNER K. M.
Published: April 2008

During the past few decades, the use of electron microscopy approaches – many developed by Terry Beveridge – to probe the physiology of microorganisms has become a mainstay in fields including microbiology, human health, and geomicrobiology. Recent developments of third‐generation synchrotron X‐ray sources and X‐ray‐based microscopy approaches for studying microbial systems have proved their utility as complements to the very powerful approaches regularly employed by electron microscopists. In addition, in recent geomicrobiological studies, researchers have begun to take advantage of the strengths of each technique by using the superior spatial resolution of the electron microscope (relative to the X‐ray microscope) and the superior elemental sensitivity of the X‐ray microscope (relative to the electron microscope), along with the ability of the X‐ray microscope to spatially probe the chemical speciation of elements. The benefits of integrating these two nanoprobes for investigating the same microenvironments within a geomicrobial system are far superior to those of independent studies separately employing each probe.
XLVI.—Birds of the Southern Sahara and Adjoining Countries in French West Africa.— Part I
Authors: Bates George Latimer
Published: April 2008

The region which was the object of my journey to investigate for birds was one of the largest ornithologically still unexplored in Africa; and, moreover, it seemed interesting as a transition area. Here one could see the very edge of the geographical range of many species, and try to find out why it ceases where it does.
VIII.—Some Notes on the Birds ofPortugal
Authors: Ticehurst Dr. C. B. , Whistler Hugh
Published: April 2008

The following notes were made by us in the spring of 1932 in the course of a short holiday spent in South and Central Portugal. We left Southampton at noon on 2 April by the R.M.S.P. ‘Alcantara,’ and landed at Lisbon at noon on 5 April, and the same evening we reached Setubal. After that our itinerary was as follows:—8 April from Setubal viâ Faro to Villa Real de St. Antonio on the Guadiana River at the extreme south‐east of Portugal; 12 April from Villa Real de St. Antonio viâ Faro and Portimão to Monchique; 15 April to Portimão; 16 April to Faro; 17 April to Setubal; 21 April to Lisbon; 23 April to Luso‐Bussaco, from which place trips were made to Coimbra, Aveiro, and Pereira; and we left for England on the 30th.
Races of Ammomanes deserti in Arabia.
Authors: Bates G. L.
Published: April 2008

The Arabian patchwork of differently‐coloured races of the “Desert Lark” (see Ibis, 1936, pp. 332–4) can now be exhibited in a more definite shape than three years ago, since we have much additional material to work on.
On the Position of the Genera Turdoides, Argya, Illadopsis, Neociehla, Ptyrticus, Maerosphenus and Pseudoaleippe in the Timaliidæ
Authors: Mackworth‐Praed C. W. , Grant C. H. B.
Published: April 2008

Although in these five genera the long broad first primary and rounded wing agree with Timalia pileata, as does the profile of the bill of Argya fulvus and Argya rubiginosus, they do not do so in any other respect,. neither in their habits, nest and eggs, nor in the scutation of the tarsus. We therefore propose to remove them all from the Timaliidae and place them in two separate families, but leaving them in their present position in the classification as placed by Sclater in Syst. Av. Æthiop. ii. 1930.
Dimorphism in Stercorarius pomarinus (Temminck)
Authors: Southern H. N.
Published: April 2008

Records from the literature are collected about the proportions of dark and pale forms of the Pomatorhine Skua.

The breeding range falls into two areas, one from Novaya Zemlya to north‐west Alaska, the other from the Mackenzie River to west Greenland. In both these areas dark birds are evenly distributed in the proportion of 1 in 5–20, though there is a slight suggestion that they. are less common in the second than in the first region.

This even, distribution contrasts with tile cline in dimorph‐ratio known to exist in the Arctic Skua.

Pomatorhine Skuas fluctuate in breeding strength from year to year. This is probably connected with the lemming cycle.
The Breeding Biology of Aquila verreauxi Lesson
Authors: Rowe E. G.
Published: April 2008

The breeding behaviour of a family of Verreaux's Eagles at Mbulu, north‐central Tanganyika Territory, was watched, with the aid of African observers, for over 1000 hours during the later part of one breeding‐season and the whole of the next.

These observations throw light on the extent of the hunting‐range, the breeding‐season, clutch‐size, incubation and fledging periods, the relative shares of the parents in incubation and in brooding and feeding the young, calls, enmity with a leopard, relations with other birds, the use of green twigs, maltreatment and death of the younger chick, the quantity and nature of prey and its preparation, the nestling's meals and fasts, the possible occurrence of the “starve‐out” process, the eaglet's preliminary efforts to leave the nest and maiden flight, and its early life on the wing until the disintegration of the family.
On the Systematic Position of the Starlings inhabiting Bulgaria and the Neighbouring Countries
Authors: Pateff Pavell , Stresemann. E.
Published: April 2008

Ample material of breeding birds has shown that S. v. vulgaris and S. v. tauricus intergrade, through hybridization, over an area of considerable extent and that S. v. balcanicus is a hybrid between them.

This result, combined with the conclusions reached by Stegmann (1935), considerably simplifies the problem of geographical variation in Sturnus vulgaris. Only six principal subdivisions can be maintained: (1) vulgaris (and its insular offshoots), (2) menzbieri, (3) caucanicus+nobilior, (4) taics+porphyronotus, (5) humii, (6) minor.

Neighbouring races are connected by hybrid populations, some of which inhabit a large area. Among the names which have been bestowed on hybrids are S. vulgaris balcanicus = vulgaris×tauricus, S. vulgaris purpurascens=taricus×caucasicus, S. vulgaris poltaratzkyi = porphyronotus×menzbieri. S. vulgaris dresseri = porphyronotus×menzbieri, S. vulgaris dzungaricus=porphyronotus×menzbieri.

Random combination of characteristics sometimes results in hybrids of different origin being almost indistinguishable (e. g.×dresseri and ×purpurascens, according to Sushkin, 1933).

Within the area occupied by “pure” races there is rather slight individual variation in quality of iridescent colour. In S. v. vulgaris, for instance, two extremes of individual variation can be distinguished which are not evenly distributed over the whole range of the subspecies.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CLUTCH‐SIZE. Part III.—Some Interspecific Comparisons
Authors: Lack David
Published: April 2008

Average clutch‐size is characteristic for each genus and each family of birds in the same region.

In almost all families, clutch‐size is much smaller in equatorial Africa than in mid‐Europe.

In mid‐European small passerines, those with comparatively safe nesting‐sites tend to have larger average clutches and longer nestling periods than those building open nests.

Swifts and petrels have safe nesting‐sites and long nestling periods, but only small clutches, correlated with a scarce or uncertain food supply for the young.

In general, the length of the incubation period is correlated with the length of the nestling period in birds, probably because it is difficult to modify the rate of development except as a whole.

In nidifugous species, the specific differences in clutch‐size have not been accounted for, though food for the brood is thought to be the basic factor involved in most cases. The number of eggs that the hen Can cover is not a primary factor in most cases, but may sometimes provide a secondary limit.
NOTES ON THE ECOLOGY OF THE ROBIN
Authors: Lack David
Published: April 2008

In winter, in England, the Robin chiefly frequents cultivated land and the wood‐edge, but a few occur in the interior of woods. In summer, proportionately more frequent the interior of woods.

 The Robin associates with man to a much greater extent in England than on the Continent of Europe. It seems first to have appeared round human habitations in winter, breeding being a later development.

 The Robin suffers severely in hard winters, census figures being given in Table 2. During a cold spell, the woods may temporarily become empty of Robins, but it is not known whether most of these birds have died or moved out.

 The Robin is “dimorphic”, some individuals migrating and others residing for the winter, the proportion in each class differing in different parts of Europe according to the severity of the winter. The activities of man have probably changed the proportion of residents to migrants in England.

 Young Robins commonly disperse to breed between 1 and 4 miles from their place of birth, but only 5 per cent, have been found more than 8 miles from their birth‐place. Once a Robin has taken up a territory, it rarely moves more than a mile, only 3 per cent, being found 1–3 miles away and another 3 per cent, over 10 miles away.

 The expectation of life for a Robin is about one year, and there is a suggestion that this figure is lower for north European migrants than for British birds.

 The Robin eats a great variety of small invertebrates, which are chiefly detected from a perch as they move on the ground or litter below the bird. Seeds and fruits are also taken.

 Particularly in hard weather, the Robin follows mammals or large birds which break up the ground, thereby rendering insects available to it.

 In winter the Robin probably has no serious food competitors. In summer it takes many geometrid larvae, as do titmice and warblers, but this food is probably superabundant.

 The Sparrowhawk is the only serious predator of the Robin.

 The external parasites are listed.

 More than 60 per cent, of adult Robins die each year. Winter food shortage is thought likely to be the chief mortality factor. Population control is briefly discussed.

 There is no real evidence that territorial behaviour controls population density or that it is important in ensuring a food supply for the young.
SOME SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF THE RHÔNE DELTA.
Authors: Yeates G. K.
Published: April 2008

The war has not affected the Camargue or its birds much.

 The dry period 1938 to 1946 caused great drops in water levels, and has adversely affected such species as Cisticola juncidis, while others have been restive and capricious, notably Egretta gazetta, Nycficorax nycticorax and Ardea purpurea. The wet winter of 1946/47 greatly improved water levels. The chief victims have been Cettia cetti and Saxicola torquata.

 The early part of 1947 was unusually cold.

 The following are the main changes since 1938:‐

 Increases: Corvw monedula, Milvus migrans, Larus argentatus michahellis,

 New breeding species: Merops apiaster.

 Expansion: Coracias garrulus.

 Decreases: Cettia cetti, Cisticola juncidis and Saxicola torquata (all three entirely gone); Remiz pendulimcs (slight); Gelochelidon nilotica (local); and, perhaps, Leucopolius alexandrinus.

 Phmicopterus ruber bred in 1947. This species also nested successfully in 1942. Vanellus vanellus and, perhaps, Upupa epops and Athene noctua. 1500 pairs fledged about 2000 chicks.
THE FUNCTION OF THE HEAD‐COLORATION OF THE NESTLING COOT AND OTHER NESTLING RALLIDÆ.
Authors: Boyd H. J. , Alley Ronald
Published: April 2008

Several hypotheses as to the function of the head‐coloration of nestling Coot are discussed with reference to the behaviour of the young. The evidence presented supports the view that the bright coloration serves to emphasize the signal‐movements employed by the young in obtaining food from adults.

A review of the literature on the colouring of sixty other species and subspecies of the family Rallidæ reveals the prevalence of bright bill‐colours and the occurrence of bright head‐markings in several genera. It is suggested that bright bills represent the first stage in the development of emphatic coloration such as is highly developed in the Coot. Several intermediate stages have been described. Bright head‐markings are limited to those species in which the need for procryptic coloration is no longer paramount.
THE BLACK‐SHOULDERED KITE IN MASIRA (OMAN)
Authors: Green. Charles
Published: April 2008

Some evidence is given to show that a small population of Elanus cæruleus has adapted itself to the desert environment of Masira Island by (a) substituting fish for rodents as staple diet, (b) nesting in caves in lava‐crags in default of suitable trees, and (c) having a much smaller brood.
BIRDS ON TENERIFE
Authors: Lack David , Southern H. N.
Published: April 2008

.1. A visit was paid to Tenerife in March 1948.

2. Of 16 species common to Tenerife and Britain, all showed detectable differences in song or call‐notes. The differences were in some cases slight but in others very marked.

3. Various species occupy broader habitats on Tenerife than in Western Europe, and this can in most cases be correlated with the absence of a related species which fills part of the habitat in Western Europe. For instance, on TenerifeParus cceruleusbreeds in conifers as well as broad‐leaved woods, andPhylloscopus collybitabreeds in low scrub as well as woods.

4.Fringilla ccelebsis more restricted in habitat on Tenerife than in Western Europe. a fact which can be correlated with the presence of the relatedF. teydea.

5. The bird fauna of the Canary Islands is recommended as a profitable field for ai detailed ecological study.
THE BREEDING SEASONS OF EUROPEAN BIRDS.
Authors: Lack David
Published: April 2008

In northern Europe, the northward movement of the sun in spring has so extensive an influence, that the food of all species of birds reaches its maximum at some time between late spring and early autumn. As a result, and in contrast to the tropics, nearly all species of birds lay their eggs in roughly the same period of the year.

A review of the breeding seasons of British birds reveals some interesting correlations between time of breeding and time of maximum food, and also many apparent puzzles, particularly as regards the marked differences in breeding season sometimes found between related species.

In Lapland, all species start breeding 1–2 months later than in Britain, and the breeding season is much less extended. As compared with Britain, the Corvidae and predatory birds of Lapland lay early relative to the small passerines, but among the small passerines, and also among the predators, the different species tend to breed in the same order relative to each other as they do in Britain.

Quantitative measurement of breeding seasons is much needed, and some examples showing the advantages of this method are given in Tables 1–3 and text‐Figs. 1–5.

It is considered that, through the action of natural selection, the breeding season of each species coincides with the time of year when offspring can be raised with greatest success. The major ultimate factor involved is, therefore, the food for the young birds (and hence the factors which determine the abundance and availability of this food). But there may be modifying ultimate factors concerned with the survival of the parents, of the nest and eggs, and of the juvenile birds in the period soon after they leave the nest.

Proximate factors provide a physiological timing mechanism whereby the gonads recrudesce, and eggs are laid, at such a time that, on the average, the young hatch at a season when there is sufficient food to raise them. In European birds, daylength seems the major proximate factor, but there are several modifying factors, perhaps including temperature.
NOTES ON THE LIFE HISTORY OF PICUMNUS MINUTISSIMUS IN SURINAM.
Authors: Haverschmidt By Fr.
Published: April 2008

.A brood of Picumnus minutissimus was watched from October to March in Surinam.

The circular nesting cavity in a dead branch of Erythrina glauca about 8 metres above the ground was carved by both birds. At first it was used as a sleeping place by two males and one female, but after incubation had been in progress for some time by only the female and one male.

Incubation was shared by both sexes. They were very restless and peeped out of the hole at frequent intervals.

There was only one youngster, to which both parents took food in the bill.

The young bird left the hole when about 28 days old. Thereafter all three birds continued sleeping in it for at least 62 days.
DISCHARGE OF OILY FLUID BY YOUNG FULMARS.
Authors: Armstrong Edward
Published: April 2008

.It is suggested that the squirting of oily fluid by the young Fulmar is a defence mechanism primarily against winged predators and that it has played an important part in enabling the species te extend its range from the Antarctic to the North Atlantic. The adaptation supports the view that the Fulmar is of Antarctic origin. The onslaught of air‐borne predators is so swift that any delay in squirting might involve disaster to the chick; consequently parents arriving within range are as liable as anything else to be received with a squirt. Apparently oil‐squirting evolved as a defence mechanism of the young bird and enabled the ancestral stock to abandon cavity‐nesting.
VARIATION IN THE SONG OF THE CHAFFINCH FRINGILLA COELEBS.
Authors: Marler. P.
Published: April 2008

A method is described for transcribing the song of the Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs, based on a division into two parts, the trill and the terminal flourish or phrase.

 Songs from five separate localities—Pico in the Azores, the Seine Valley in N.W. France, the Thames Valley, N. Lancashire and the Scottish Highlands—are distinguished on the number and arrangement of note sequences, in the trill, and of notes, in the phrase.

 Fourteen distinct types of trill were discovered and forty‐five types of phrase.

 It is shown that both the trill and, more particularly, the phrase are highly variable even within one locality.

 The numbers of possible phrase types which might be recorded by this method are calculated, and it is shown that most of these up to three notes have been discovered, that further investigation will quickly reveal more 4‐note and 5‐note types, but that the discovery of 6‐note and 7‐note types will be slow because of their comparative rarity.

 It emerges that some song types are much more common than others. Trills of two or three sequences of descending pitch make up 83 per cent of the results and none of the other twelve types exceeds 3 per cent of the total.

 In the phrase from 0 to 7 notes may be used, but those with 3–5 notes are most frequent. There is evidence for a preference for certain patterns within each number‐class.

 It is shown statistically that geographical variation of song between the separate regions occurs and that the songs characteristic of any one area can only be described in statistical terms. The suggested existence of song types confined and exclusive to a particular region cannot be substantiated, although this condition is approached in one case.

 From a comparison with data from Russia, it appears that the trills are similar to the Western European forms, but that the range of notes in the phrase is lower and that the mean number of notes per phrase is lower—1.99 as compared with 2.91.

 The song variants are distributed as dialects, and it is shown that the formation of these can be understood in the light of work on song inheritance.

 It is inferred from its phenotypic nature that the geographical variation of the Chaffinch song cannot still be regarded as an example of incipient speciation.
A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOGY OF NORTH‐WEST AFRICA.
Authors: Snow. D. W.
Published: April 2008

Two expeditions were made to the forests of North‐West Africa in January‐February 1950 and April‐June 1951.

 The mountains and forests are described. The discontinuity of the forests and the dry area of Western Algeria, where the forests are thin, are of particular importance in the distribution of the woodland birds.

 It is shown that there is a close correlation between the rainfall of the different patches of forest and the number of species of resident woodland birds occurring in them.

 An account is given of the bird populations of the different types of forest, as found by the writer in winter and spring.

 The breeding seasons of the three Titmice in different habitats are summarized. There are differences of up to a month between the breeding seasons in different localities, but the order in which the three species breed is the same.

 An annotated list is given of all the species obsened. R. regulus is added to the North African list.
THE BLACKBIRD IN SHETLAND.
Authors: Venables. L. S. V. and U. M.
Published: April 2008

The Blackbird Turdus merula has now bred on Shetland for about 70 years and colonized all but four of the inhabited islands. A few isolated territories occur in the hills.

 Of 204 occupied nests 50% were inside buildings, 19% in stone walls and 18% in garden vegetation, all indicating man's importance as a precursor. Inside nests were used repeatedly; this may have survival value, enabling a third brood to be reared.

 Breeding density, estimated over 9 square miles for three. seasons, was ca. 1 pair to 300 acres which would produce a total Shetland breeding population of roughly 1230 pairs. Territories were not usually contiguous and a breeding pair would often roam over ca. 40 acres.

 The egg‐laying period (April‐July) is later than in England and breeding changes such as song and beak colour are correspondingly delayed. There is no autumn or winter song.

 The average of 117 clutches was 4.32, which is significantly higher than the average (3.9) for 483 British nests. The origin of this difference is discussed. Average brood size, nesting success and breeding curves are given.

 Of 403 nestlings ringed, 237 also carried colour rings. Returns and sight records over four years show that the young birds remain in or near the parent territory until 6–7 weeks old, then establish themselves in an area providing food and cover where they remain all winter. First‐winter returns are all within 5 miles of the nest. About March a further move is usually made to establish a breeding territory. Of eleven ringed birds located breeding, seven were within 1 mile of the parent nest, and in three cases the new breeding area was adjacent to the parent territory. Both sexes may winter in their breeding territory and isolated males often defend winter territory. As yet there have been no recoveries outside Shetland though birds over a year old have moved up to 31 miles to other islands in Shetland.

 Dates and pattern of the spring and autumn passage are given, together with the ringing returns available. These show that Blackbirds from Norway and Denmark pass through to wintering grounds in Britain, while others from the same source remain in Shetland all winter.

 Comparing the wintering population with that of summer we find a greater concentration round the crofting townships, total numbers are higher and the ratio is weighted in favour of males. Winter Blackbird figures from elsewhere in Britain suggest that this preponderance of males is more widespread.
THE WINTER WEIGHTS OF TITMICE.
Authors: Owen D. F.
Published: April 2008

1500 weights of tits were obtained in the winter 1951–52 and in November and December 1952.

On average the birds weighed least in the early morning and most just before going to roost in the late afternoon. The increase in weight slackened off around mid‐day, corresponding with a decrease in feeding.

The average weights were inversely correlated with air temperature, owing to increased feeding on cold days.

Blue, Great and Coal Tits were on average heaviest in December (or possibly November) and weights then fell gradually.

It is suggested that the increase in weight by passerine birds in early winter is an adaptation for a potential shortage of food later.
COMMENTS ON ‘THE BIRD FANCYER'S DELIGHT’: TOGETHER WITH NOTES ON IMITATION IN THE SUB‐SONG OF THE CHAFFINCH.
Authors: Thorpe W. H.
Published: April 2008

The ‘Bird Fancyer's Delight’ (1717) is considered in the light of modern knowledge of the process of song‐learning in birds. Some conclusions (if Baron von Pernau (1716) as to song imitation are also discussed. A new example of the ability of the Chaffinch to incorporate song phrases from other species into its sub‐song is given. It is suggested that there is an important difference between its true song and its sub‐song in this respect and that this difference may throw light on the ability of some other finches to learn alien songs.
THE STRUCTURE OF THE FEATHERS IN CHLOROPHANES AND IRIDOPHANES (COEREBIDAE).
Authors: Aubek L. , Appleyard H. M.
Published: April 2008

Structurally coloured feathers from the Coerebid Chlorophanes show atypical features. These may be connected with different conditions of compressibility during development, as compared with typical feathers and mammalian fibres; there, cortex is more compressible than medulla.

The atypical cortex has a special function in connection with the structural shade. The conditions in Iridophanes are similar to those in Chlorophanes, but less marked. Close relationship between these two genera, as suggested by earlier authors, is therefore confirmed.
STRUCTURALLY COLOURED PATTERN MARKS ON THE INNER WEBS OF FLIGHT FEATHERS.
Authors: Auber L. , Mason Muriel V.
Published: April 2008

Some Psittacidae and Coraciidae show the unusual feature of blue and green pattern marks restricted to reverse surfaces of flight feathers.

The optical causes of the colours of these marks are identical with, and the morphological configurations similar to, those which typically cause these colours on obverse surfaces of feathers in the same families. The atypical marks may, however, have been evolved independently from the typically located colour.

Colour patterns on flight feathers are discussed in relation to the mechanics of flight and to optical effect.
THE FOOD OF THE HERON ARDEA CINEREA IN THE BREEDING SEASON.
Authors: Owen D. F.
Published: April 2008

Food samples were collected from nestlings at three heronries by forcing them to regurgitate recent meals.

 Young Herons are fed about 3–4 times in 24 hours when one parent is feeding and about twice as often when both are feeding. Feeding is most frequent just after dawn and in the evening. It is estimated that a brood of Herons receives on the average 230 pounds of food during the nestling period.

 Herons select food between certain size limits, avoiding both very small and very large prey.

 The proportion of each species of prey was different at different heronries, correlated with the available feeding grounds. There were also some differences between years.

 The proportion of the various prey‐species varied with the season because some species changed their habits and were thus not always equally available to the Herons. At the peak of the breeding season food was more plentiful than either earlier or later.

 Certain Herons tended to specialize on certain species of prey, apparently because they often returned to the same feeding area.

 Many nestling Herons died of starvation and it is concluded that food is often short in the breeding season. The importance of asynchronous hatching is discussed.

 The breeding season of the Heron appears to be timed so that the young are in the nest when the chief species of prey are most available.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE AUTUMN MIGRATION IN THE AREA BETWEEN THE SEA OF AZOV AND THE CASPIAN
Authors: Bub H.
Published: April 2008

Bird‐migration was observed 5 October‐14 November 1942 along 150 km. of railway line between Salsk and Stalingrad (between the Sea of Azov and the Lower Volga). The typical steppe‐birds of South Russia were recorded—larks, harriers, bustards etc.—and also astonishing numbers of crows, starlings, finches, thrushes, pigeons and others. Magpies, Yellow Buntings (many), sparrows, Crested Larks, Great Tits and Partridges also appeared as migrants.

Most birds were travelling southwest or south but the geese were going west (except for one flock), as were Redwings and part of the Great Bustards and Yellow Buntings. Eastward movement was rare.

The immediate destination of the birds observed can only be presumed, but those flying west would reach the coasts of the Sea of Azov and very likely continue further. Birds flying southwest and south were headed for the eastern half of the Black Sea, or the Caucasus. This range, which forms a very pronounced barrier, is well known to be crossed by migrants.

After the autumn sojourn another period of observation followed, 1–18 January 1943 (mostly between Proletarskaja and Salsk).

In all, 45 species were observed alive, and under telegraph wires birds of 25 species were found dead, including 10 not otherwise recorded.
A REVISION OF TRICHOGLOSSUS HAEMATODUS AND OF THE AUSTRALIAN PLATYCERCINE PARROTS
Authors: Cain A. J.
Published: April 2008

A complete taxonomic revision of the loriine parrots of the Trichoglossus haematodus superspecics and of the Australian platycercine parrots with distribution maps and checklist is given.

Two new subspecies, Trichoglossus haematodus berauensis and Platycercus adscitus mackaiesis, are described. The invalidity of twenty‐one others is established or confirmed.

A type locality for Platycercus icterotis xanthogenys is designated.

The chain of forms Platycercus e. elegant, fleurjeuensis, adelaidae + subadelaidae, and flaveolus is a ring‐species, flaveolus overlapping with e. elegans without interbreeding but hybridizing with adelaidae.

Where Barnardius zonarius and B. barnardi meet (in the Flinders Ranges) there appears to be a belt of hybridization.

The nearest relative of Purpureicephalus spurius (southwestern Australia), already recognized as a relict species, is suggested to be “Eunymphicus”cornutus of New Caledonia, also a relict, which is made congeneric with it.

The validity of the genus Barnardius is confirmed, of Northiella denied. Neophema is retained in the platycercines.
SOME OBSERVATIONS AT A ROOST OF EUROPEAN SWALLOWS AND OTHER BIRDS IN THE SOUTH‐EASTERN TRANSVAAL
Authors: Rudebeck Gustaf
Published: April 2008

A roosting place for European Swallows Hirundo nistica near Lake Chrissie in the Transvaal, South Africa, is described. The number spending the night in this place was about one million, a figure calculated in several different ways. 2. The behaviour of the Swallows, both morning and evening, is described, with some remarks on other species roosting in the same place (Bubulcus ibis, Spreo bicolor, Quelea quelea, Euplectes taha, Diatropura progne).

The Swallow—the only migrant from the palaéarctic region present on this occasion—alighted later in the evening and resumed activity earlier in the morning than the others.

Practically all Swallows came from W.S.W. In the morning they and almost alt other birds left towards W.S.W. Perhaps they were utilizing some local but abundant food supply. Some observations in support of this explanation are quoted.
TERRITORY IN THE GENUS PARUS
Authors: Gibb John
Published: April 2008

This paper deals with the Great Tit, Blue Tit, Marsh Tit, Willow Tit, Black‐capped Chickadee and Plain Tit. All species are territorial in the breeding season, but show a wide variety of territorial behaviour in winter, correlated with their food supply.

The territorial behaviour of each species is described briefly. Sizes of territories are given and differences between and within the species are discussed.

The reproductive rate of Great Tits varies inversely with their density. If this is general among tits it could give sufficient selective advantage for the persistence of territory.

By limiting density, territory could reduce intra‐specinc competition for mates, nest‐sites and food, or check disease and predation. There is probably no single, outstandingly important function of territory common to all tits.

Great Tits, and perhaps other species, looking for a place to breed prefer certain habitats, but avoid crowding.

The value of the distinction between territory limiting density and merely spacing out the pairs is questioned. There is some evidence that territory may limit density.