Behaviour of Birds 
took little notice of aeroplanes; as an 
observer puts it, “‘they created no more 
alarm than a steam engine in the next parish ”’ 
(The Freld, 17 .xXi.17). 
STARLINGS put in an appearance on the 
first day of the bombardment of Gaza, at the 
end of October 1917. Their numbers in- 
creased as the year went on, and by Decem- 
ber there was a flock estimated at half a 
million, which fed, being often accompanied 
by flocks of thousands of ROCK-PIGEONS, on 
the old British camping-ground. 
SWALLows, both European and Egyptian, 
were common throughout the autumn, and 
invariably accompanied mounted troops to 
catch the insects disturbed by their horses’ 
feet (Fteld, 30.11.18, p. 447). 
Not far from the Wadi Guzzee, a pair of 
WHEATEARS took up residence, in May r1og17, 
within two yards of a bivouac occupied by a 
detachment of R.A.M.C. The hen-bird was 
quite fearless, and would enter her nest whilst 
men were washing in a basin less than two 
yards off, without the least sign of alarm 
(Country Life, 8.11.19). 
139 
