French Birds took Aeroplane for Enemy.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 23 October 1914, Page 7

French Birds took Aeroplane for Enemy.

An extraordinary instance of the intelligence of birds forms the subject of a letter received by the French Ministry of Agriculture from an inspector of forests. Some time ___ ago the inspector received complaints from sportsmen that quail and partridges had become scarce in certain districts. On examining the matter he found the birds had deserted the regions in which aerodromes had been installed. Seemingly they took the monoplanes an<f biplanes for enormous birds of prey. Finding after some time, however, that their ranks were not thinned by the strange creatures hovering overhead, partridges and quail despatched scouts to the aerodromes to examine the air craft at close quarters. The result of the investigations of these feathered envoys was evidently reassuring, for the birds returned to their former haunts and the preserves around Le Mans and Rheims are now as well stock-