Migration in War-time 



tions in France and Flanders. In any case, 

 it is a somewhat arbitrary assertion to state 

 that certain migration routes were deserted 

 when these very routes are themselves still 

 only problematical. 



Such birds as were migrating during the 

 heavy anti-aircraft barrage of September 

 1917 and whose path across the moon-lit 

 sky led over London, must have been con- 

 siderably disturbed by the bursting of shells. 

 The raid periods in 1917 coincided with 

 the autumnal migration of such birds as the 

 WHIMBREL, but possibly they "rose to the 

 occasion " or somewhat diverted their course 

 on seeing the barrage from afar, for not a 

 single bird was found whose death could be 

 attributed to a shell splinter. Small birds, 

 if migrating on those nights, would probably 

 be travelling below the barrage, and Sep- 

 tember would be too early in the year for 

 many GEESE or DUCKS to be on their journey 

 south. Their passage over any bombarded 

 area in October or November would probably 

 be diverted in a similar manner if they 

 encountered a barrage on the way (Mr. 



149 ': 



