Sufferings of Birds 
tinue to do so (Bird Notes and News, vol. vii. 
p. 88). A man was fined £2 2s. at Greenwich 
on July goth, 1917, for throwing out half a 
slice of bread for birds (Daily Matl, 10.vii.17), 
and similar prosecutions were, at this period, 
not uncommon. A bird hostel, where sol- 
diers’ pet birds were received and taken care 
of during their owner’s absence, was set up 
at Brixton by an “‘ old contemptible ”’ (Daily 
Mazl, 1.viii.18), who must have had a warm 
heart both for birds and soldiers. Early in 
1919, when the food restrictions were some- 
what relaxed, birds fared better, and our 
returning soldiers got a very warm welcome 
at London Bridge from the Picrons. The 
birds were so accustomed to sharing the buns 
provided for Tommy at Lady Limerick’s 
buffet that they learnt the arrival times of 
the leave trains and gathered round to wel- 
come with cupboard love. An eye-witness 
writes: ‘‘I saw one Tommy receiving kisses 
from three PIGEONS at the same time; one was 
on his shoulder, one on his head, and the 
third was pecking at the bun he held in his 
hand ’’ (Star, 3.1.19). 
7O 
