LETTERS 



BIRDS AND SHELL-FIRE. 



To the Editors of British Birds. 



Sirs,— I have lately been reading various articles in the- 

 papers regarding birds in the war-stricken ]iaits of France, 

 so I thought you niight care to have a fe^\• of niy personal 

 observations on this subject. 



I will lirst enumerate the birds I have actually seen. These 

 include the House-Sparrow, Swallow, House-Martin, Chaffincli, 

 Yellow-Hannner, Sky-Lark, Willow-Wren, Magpie, Kestrel 

 and Wood-Pigeon. All of these I have seen flying about in 

 front of our own and the French artillery during an artillery 

 duel. The House-SparroA^s continue to sit on the hovise-to])s 

 of this village (I cannot name it), which is about |-mile 

 from the French trenches, although the shells are continually 

 knocking large holes in the roofs. So far I have only seen 

 one of these birds killed at all. 



Under the eaves of two of the cottages three pairs of 

 House-Martins have already built their nests. (I may add 

 that this village has had about twenty shells fired over and 

 on it each day for the last two days. In fact it is only leit 

 standing because there are so many spies in it. We ha\(' 

 caught three of them.) 



A Magpie always seems to fly over our guns at about 9 a.m. 

 each morning, while a Kestrel has a])peared once. 



Sky-Larks are continually up in the air, and are continually 

 being mistaken at first sight for aeroplanes. 



I heard a Willow- Wren at a point on a road about one mile 

 east of Poperinghe. Swallows were also just on the outskirts 

 of the same to'wn. Chaffinches are quite numerous, and sing 

 lustily when there is no cannonading. HoAvever, when 

 lyddite shells are flying about, all the birds seem to realise 

 that the ground is the only safe place for them, and accord- 

 ingly they seek cover in the lowest parts of the hedges. 



It is difficult to tell Wood-l'igcons souietimes froiu tame 

 pigeons when they are at all high uj). I think I have only 

 seen one Wood-Pigeon, the rest are mostly pets kept by 

 German gentlemen, one of whom, I may mention, was found 

 in an attic here with six of his pets, and a note-book, and he 

 swore he was English. Patrick A. Cin-BR. 



2nd K.O.Y.L.L, B.E.F., France. 



Ayril 'M)th. IltlT). 



