Utility and Ecgpomy of Birds 
hour of agony one sufferer wrote: ‘‘ We do 
not want to see in this country devastated 
districts, such as one sees abroad, through 
the caterpillars being allowed to go un- 
checked and through the destruction of birds 
for sport and profit’’ (Daily Mail, 11-16.vi.18). 
Though regretting the means, I cannot but 
rejoice at the end which brought these sinners, 
who would not recognise the utility of birds, 
to repentance. 
I have purposely omitted the consideration 
of the status of the WoopD-PIGEON, a bird 
which may very properly be regarded as 
most mischievous in respect to agriculture, 
but which, I must here state in common fair- 
ness, was reported as taking toll of the 
caterpillars in June 1918. Its food-value is 
certainly considerable and might almost have 
entitled it to have been considered in the fol- 
lowing section, but, notwithstanding the little 
good it’ may do, it undoubtedly costs more 
in the damage it does when alive than it 
realises when killed and put on the market. 
During the period under review battues were 
organised in several counties and large num- 
38 
