Sufferings of Birds 
GUILLEMOTS were porn on the beach near 
Berwick in a helpless state, their wings and 
plumage being covered with oil which pre- 
vented their flying or diving, and when ap- 
proached they tried to walk away, but were 
easily captured (Times, 29.iv.18). It is 
curious that between these dates there should 
be an absence of similar reports ; undoubtedly 
many oil-carrying or oil-using craft must have 
been sunk in 1916 and 1917, andit can hardly 
be supposed that the sea birds had learned 
to shun the death-dealing oil, and then forgot 
their lesson. Probably there were many un- 
observed bird-tragedies on the high-seas. 
When an American steamer was wrecked 
on the Goodwin Sands in February 1919, 
about 1,500 tons of oil escaped into the sea. 
So thickly did it collect on the surface that 
GULLS became unable to plunge in search of 
food. Their heads, beaks, and feathers be- 
came covered, and many were washed ashore 
in an exhausted condition (Daily Mail, 
3513.50). 
GULLS were occasionally killed by shell- 
fire from our ships when at gun practice at 
78 
