Migration in War-time 



Carnot, pointed out in 1916 that in places 

 where fighting occurred the birds became 

 greatly disturbed, screeching and flying about 

 in all directions, unable to settle down any- 

 where, day and night. Among the migratory 

 birds, those which dwell south of the war 

 zone carried out their flight to the warm lands 

 in the customary direction, but began it 

 somewhat earlier than under normal condi- 

 tions. As regards migratory birds dwelling 

 north of the war zone, they skirted the line 

 of the front and, instead of flying through 

 France, flew through Switzerland and Italy. 

 For example, BLACKBIRDS, which from Ger- 

 many and Scandinavia fly southward annually 

 in huge flocks through Burgundy, did not 

 appear there. Similarly, no LARKS were seen 

 in October 1915. In Flanders and Holland 

 there were neither marsh nor water birds 

 (Times, Literary Supplement, 2g.vii.i6). 



According to the observations of Russian 

 naturalists during the first year of the War, 

 JACKDAWS and ROOKS disappeared, LARKS 

 no longer sang in the fields, and even SPAR- 

 ROWS grew very scarce. The EAGLE, a con- 

 L 145 



