PREFACE 



ON the outbreak of the European War 

 In 1914 1 made up my mind to collect 

 all the information I could regarding 

 its effects upon the life of Birds. The result 

 has been the accumulation of a large collec- 

 tion of cuttings, from scientific publications 

 as well as newspapers, and it has been with 

 no little difficulty that this has been collated. 

 I regret that none of my information has 

 been derived at first hand; my military 

 duties kept me in London, but " the looker- 

 on sees most of the game," and there is no 

 doubt that my position gave me exceptional 

 facilities, which otherwise I might not have 

 had, for accumulating the mass of notes now 

 at my disposal. 



The subject of Birds and the War is one 

 which it is hoped will one day be tackled 

 scientifically and internationally. It has been 

 already considered in Russia by the Petro- 



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