Preface 
much is lacking. It is obvious that its pub- 
lication is premature until the whole subject 
can be studied internationally. For instance, 
the real economic conditions prevalent in 
Germany are as yet so imperfectly known 
that it is impossible to assess the value placed 
on birds as food; the legislation affecting 
them is unknown, and must remain so until 
a period of peace has elapsed sufficient to 
safeguard the revelation of this secret as of 
no military value. The German, Austrian, 
and other enemy journals have not been 
accessible, and doubtless much information 
could be obtained by a careful scrutiny of 
our Allies’ scientific publications such as the 
Revue Francaise a’ Ornithologie, etc. Now that 
the embargo on the disclosure of certain mili- 
tary details, previously regarded as secret, 
has been removed, and with the return home 
of many soldiers from the front, information 
on the subject of ‘‘ Birds and the War’”’ is 
only now being brought to light. 
Fully realising that my work is but an im- 
perfect sketch of the finished picture, I have 
been careful to give references for all my 
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