Effect of War on Birds 
weather, are alleged 6 have attacked fisher- 
men off Deal while making a record haul of 
sprats in January 1917: it was only with 
considerable difficulty that the fishermen 
were able to keep the GULLS at bay with their 
oars (Globe, 23.1.17). This temerity on the 
part of the SEA-GULLS can perhaps hardly be 
attributable to the War, unless, indeed, they 
were infected with the war fever which per- 
vaded the world. 
In the autumn and winter of 1917-18, 
when energetic attempts were made to plough 
up more pasture land in this country, motor- 
ploughs were extensively employed for the 
purpose. One observer noticed that the 
GULLS, normally the constant attendants of 
the horse-plough, did not follow the motor- 
ploughs, presumably on account of their 
noise and smell (Field, 16.iii.1918, p. 391). 
Another observer, however, reported having 
seen hundreds of GuLts following motor- 
ploughs as unconcernedly as if they had been 
of the old-fashioned kind (Fveld, 30.iii.1918, 
p. 447). It is, perhaps, worthy of remark 
that under the new régime, when it has be- 
158 
