PREFACE 
N the outbreak of the European War 
in 1914 I made up my mind to collect 
allthe information I could regarding 
its effects upon the life of Birds, The result 
has been the accumulation of a large collec- 
tion of cuttings, from scientific publications 
as well as newspapers, and it has been with 
no little difficulty that this has been collated. 
I regret that none of my information has 
been derived at first hand; my military 
duties kept me in London, but “the looker- 
on sees most of the game,’’ and there is no 
doubt that my position gave me exceptional 
facilities, which otherwise I might not have 
had, for accumulating the mass of notes now 
at my disposal. 
The subject of Birds and the War is one 
which it is hoped will one day be tackled 
scientifically andinternationally. It has been 
already considered in Russia by the Petro- 
vil 
