Behaviour of Birds 



incessant gunfire died down(Times, n. iv. 16). 

 CUCKOOS were seen within 300 yards of the 

 first-line trenches (Scotsman, i6.vi.i7). 



OWLS, BROWN and LITTLE, were so callous 

 to the racket of shell and rifle fire that they 

 revelled in hawking rats and mice at night, 

 as usual, and proved of inestimable value 

 (Bristol Times and Mirror, 2i.vii.i6, and 

 Times, lo.i.iy). Often at night, when the 

 guns were active, OWLS slipped noiselessly 

 past, on silent wing, dodging from side to 

 side in the manner peculiar to the species, 

 and keeping clear as far as possible from in 

 front of the muzzles of the guns (H. Thoburn 

 Clarke, in Land and Water, I4.ix.i6). A 

 pair of OWLS inhabited the ruins of a barn, 

 which also sheltered an anti-aircraft gun, 

 and whenever this was fired the OWLS dashed 

 out, to be mobbed by all the small birds in 

 the neighbourhood (Land and Water, 14. ix. 

 16). 



KESTRELS manifested an utter disregard 

 for all the noise of war, and might often be 

 seen over " No-man's-land " or sitting on the 

 stakes supporting the barbed wire (Scotsman, 



124 



