Utility and Egmomy of Birds 
waste of waters. The fourth, set free in a 
fog, hungry and thirsty, struggled over the 
fifty miles of sea without a landmark and 
without a rest. The bird could not reach 
his loft, but fluttered down in a coastguard 
station, and there fell dead from exhaustion ; 
but his message was delivered and six men 
were saved (Bird Notes and News, vol. viii. 
p. 26). A PIGEON, sent on a seaplane carry- 
ing out duties in the North Sea, brought 
back the message “‘ attacked.’’ The observer 
had not time to write more, and the bird 
itself, shot through the left eye by a bullet 
during the encounter which resulted in the 
loss of the seaplane, only just managed to 
struggle to its loft. It was promptly “‘ pen- 
sioned off’’ war service and became the pet 
of the aerodrome (Daily Chronicle, 11 .1x.18),. 
PIGEONS once wounded while serving their 
country were not allowed again on duty; 
they were fed on the best and became 
perfectly tame, answering to such names 
as. ** Haig,” ‘' Kitchener,” ~and **Amiens~ 
(Daily Mirror, 20.1x.18). 
HoMERs were taken up in aeroplanes and 
IO 
