Birds as Messengers 



attracted by the periscope of an enemy sub- 

 marine aroused the ingenuity of no less a 

 savant than "Samuel Pepys, Junr.," who 

 suggested that "it be ordered in the fleet 

 that all SEA-GULLS around our ships be fed 

 daily with herrings from an underwater boat ; 

 so whenever they shall observe any such 

 boat, they shall assuredly flock over it for 

 herrings, and so its presence be made known, 

 being that these birds can see to a great 

 depth below the water and so keen of sight 

 as to discern a sprat five fathoms below the 

 surface " (Truth, 25.^.1915). 



The suggestion, made by Punch, that 

 PARROTS should be used for propaganda 

 work both in this country and in Germany, 

 the propagandists abroad to be crossed with 

 British HOMING PIGEONS (Punch, 27.iii.i8), 

 only aimed at the humorous. A scheme was, 

 however, sent in all seriousness to the War 

 Inventions Board by a man who had noticed 

 that birds peck mortar. He suggested that 

 a flock of CORMORANTS should be trained to 

 feed by putting their food in lines against a 

 wall, so that they might associate these lines 



27 



