Utility and Zconomy of Birds 
4.1.19). In the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 
they were extensively used, and in the South 
African War of 1899-1902 they were also 
employed. Owing to the advent of wireless 
telegraphy it was decided by the Admiralty, 
in 1918, that the Naval Pigeon Service was 
obsolete, and the Government PIGEONS were 
therefore disposed of (Referee, 22.xii.18). 
At the beginning of the war the British 
authorities took a characteristic course in 
dealing with these birds. They ordered the 
internment, or destruction, of all PIGEONS 
along the coast: Thousands of lives of men 
depended upon the reversal of that edict, 
and upon the use, instead of slaughter, of the 
birds. The mine-sweepers were the first to 
realise the existence of a means of communi- 
cation possible where all others failed, and 
an emergency Pigeon Service was established 
through private owners by means of which 
mine-sweepers were enabled to send informa- 
tion to shore of large minefields newly laid 
and other dangers of the sea (Bird Notes 
and News, vol. viii. p. 25). Gradually it was 
recognised that PIGEONS would prove of great 
4 
