Birds as Messengers 
attracted by the periscope of an enemy sub- 
marine aroused the ingenuity of no less a 
savant than “‘Samuel Pepys, Junr.,’’ who 
suggested that “‘it be ordered in the fleet 
that all SEA-GULLs around our ships be fed 
daily with herrings from an underwater boat ; 
so whenever they shall observe any such 
boat, they shall assuredly flock over it for 
herrings, and so its presence be made known, 
being that these birds can see to a great 
depth below the water and so keen of sight 
as to discern a sprat five fathoms below the 
surface’ (Truth, 25.11.1915). 
The suggestion, made by Punch, that 
PARROTS should be used for propaganda 
work both in this country and in Germany, 
the propagandists abroad to be crossed with 
British HoMING PIGEONS (Punch, 27.iii.18), 
only aimed at the humorous. A scheme was, 
however, sent in all seriousness to the War 
Inventions Board by a man who had noticed 
that birds peck mortar. He suggested that 
a flock of CORMORANTS should be trained to 
feed by putting their food in lines against a 
wall, so that they might associate these lines 
27 
