Sufferings of Birds 



tinue to do so (Bird Notes and News, vol. vii. 

 p. 88). A man was fined 2 2s. at Greenwich 

 on July gth, 1917, for throwing out half a 

 slice of bread for birds (Daily Mail, 10 .vii .17), 

 and similar prosecutions were, at this period, 

 not uncommon. A bird hostel, where sol- 

 diers' pet birds were received and taken care 

 of during their owner's absence, was set up 

 at Brixton by an " old contemptible " (Daily 

 Mail, i .viii.iS), who must have had a warm 

 heart both for birds and soldiers. Early in 

 1919, when the food restrictions were some- 

 what relaxed, birds fared better, and our 

 returning soldiers got a very warm welcome 

 at London Bridge from the PIGEONS. The 

 birds were so accustomed to sharing the buns 

 provided for Tommy at Lady Limerick's 

 buffet that they learnt the arrival times of 

 the leave trains and gathered round to wel- 

 come with cupboard love. An eye-witness 

 writes : " I saw one Tommy receiving kisses 

 from three PIGEONS at the same time ; one was 

 on his shoulder, one on his head, and the 

 third was pecking at the bun he held in his 

 hand" (Star, 3.1.19). 



70 



