Behaviour of Birds 
i gn 
incessant gunfire died down (Times, II. iv. 16). 
CucKoos were seen within 300 yards of the 
first-line trenches (Scotsman, 16.v1.17). 
OWLS, BROWN and LITTLE, were so callous 
to the racket of shell and rifle fire that they 
revelled in hawking rats and mice at night, 
as usual, and proved of inestimable value 
(Bristol Times and Mirror, 21.vii.16, and 
Times, 10.1.17). Often at night, when the 
guns were active, OWLs slipped noiselessly 
past, on silent wing, dodging from side to 
side in the manner peculiar to the species, 
and keeping clear as far as possible from in 
front of the muzzles of the guns (H. Thoburn 
Clarke, in Land and Water, 14.1x.16). A 
pair of OwLs inhabited the ruins of a barn, 
which also sheltered an anti-aircraft gun, 
and whenever this was fired the OWLs dashed 
out, to be mobbed by all the small birds in 
the neighbourhood (Land and Water, 14.ix. 
16). 
KESTRELS manifested an utter disregard 
for all the noise of war, and might often be 
seen over ‘‘ No-man’s-land ’”’ or sitting on the 
stakes supporting the barbed wire (Scotsman, 
124 
