Migration in War-time 
were wont to conceal themselves from their 
unsuspecting prey (Country Life, I.ii.19). 
Italian ‘‘ sportsmen ”’ are apt to kill any bird ; 
her professional bird-catchers, in their ‘“‘ roc- 
colo’’ decoys, take thousands of LINNETS 
and insectivorous birds as they enter the 
funnel of Italy on their annual emigration to 
Africa. These men being otherwise engaged, 
Europe may have benefited by having more 
birds and less insect pests in consequence 
(Manchester Guavdian, 10.vii.16), All things 
considered, I think, however, that I am 
justified in saying that there is at present no 
definite proof that the course of migration was 
seriously affected by the War. 
An airman, who must have been an enthusi- 
astic student of migration, made observations 
regarding the height at which he met with 
birds when in the air: SWALLows, he found, 
preferred an altitude of 2,000 ft.; WILD 
Duck, 5,000 ft.; and flocks of PLOVER were 
encountered at 6,500 ft. (Pall Mall Gazette, 
II.xi.16). Pilots and men in observation 
balloons agreed that they rarely saw birds 
at a height of more than 3,000 feet; but a 
151 
