Show birds cannot understand glass it has been frequently noticed that no wild bird can understand the properties of glass and great numbers ranging ran ing in size from a pheasant to a titmouse are killed by flying against the windows of country houses it if a room possesses a large mirror reflecting the view seen through art an open window birds are particularly liar ila ble to be deceived and especially it if frightened into thinking that they can fly through it sparrow hawks will sometimes chase their intended victims into strange places some years ago a member ot of this species pursued a small bird through the open window of a a railway carriage la in motion in its blind determination to secure the panting fugitive it entangled its claws in the meshes of the hat rack and was ignominiously slain by an astonished passenger with an umbrella |