Effect of War on Birds 
hunter and by the @pread of mankind into 
their haunts. Nearer home, probably the 
greatest effect of the War is yet to be seen as 
regards birds. I am thinking of the de- 
struction of forests and woods, sacrificed 
broadcast for national needs. For a genera- 
tion, at least, nothing but desolate areas will 
take the places of what were in pre-war days 
sanctuaries of wild life (Observer, 21.iv.18). 
Already in I917 an extension of the range of 
the GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER in the 
Tay area has been attributed to the cutting 
down of the larger and thicker woods for war 
purposes, the WoopDPECKERS having been 
driven into the smaller woods which fill many 
of the more remote glens (Scottish Naturalist, 
I916, p. 94). Similar changes of habitat, if 
not of habit, may be expected; all of them 
due, more or less, to the exigencies of the 
war. There can be no doubt that the 
absence of game-keepers from many estates 
has favoured an increase of “‘ vermin,’’ both 
four-footed and winged. From many dis- 
tricts it has already been reported that several 
species of predatory birds, which were in 
160 
