Utility and Economy of Birds 



waste of waters. The fourth, set free in a 

 fog, hungry and thirsty, struggled over the 

 fifty miles of sea without a landmark and 

 without a rest. The bird could not reach 

 his loft, but fluttered down in a coastguard 

 station, and there fell dead from exhaustion ; 

 but his message was delivered and six men 

 were saved (Bird Notes and News, vol. viii. 

 p. 26). A PIGEON, sent on a seaplane carry- 

 ing out duties in the North Sea, brought 

 back the message " attacked. 71 The observer 

 had not time to write more, and the bird 

 Itself, shot through the left eye by a bullet 

 during the encounter which resulted in the 

 loss of the seaplane, only just managed to 

 struggle to its loft. It was promptly "pen- 

 sioned off " war service and became the pet 

 of the aerodrome (Daily Chronicle, ii.ix.i8). 

 PIGEONS once wounded while serving their 

 country were not allowed again on duty ; 

 they were fed on the best and became 

 perfectly tame, answering to such names 

 as "Haig," " Kitchener ," and " Amiens " 

 (Daily Mirror, 2O.ix.i8). 



HOMERS were taken up in aeroplanes and 

 10 



