Preface 



much is lacking. It is obvious that its pub- 

 lication is premature until the whole subject 

 can be studied internationally. For instance, 

 the real economic conditions prevalent in 

 Germany are as yet so imperfectly known 

 that it is impossible to assess the value placed 

 on birds as food ; the legislation affecting 

 them is unknown, and must remain so until 

 a period of peace has elapsed sufficient to 

 safeguard the revelation of this secret as of 

 no military value. The German, Austrian, 

 and other enemy journals have not been 

 accessible, and doubtless much information 

 could be obtained by a careful scrutiny of 

 our Allies' scientific publications such as the 

 Revue Fran^aise d'Ornithologie, etc. Now that 

 the embargo on the disclosure of certain mili- 

 tary details, previously regarded as secret, 

 has been removed, and with the return home 

 of many soldiers from the front, information 

 on the subject of " Birds and the War " is 

 only now being brought to light. 



Fully realising that my work is but an im- 

 perfect sketch of the finished picture, I have 

 been careful to give references for all my 



xi 



