12 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
in this country, to which also they are only summer visitants, 
but they have the advantage over other birds that, being perfectly 
unimpeded in their movements by the cares and duties of 
incubation, they are always ready for action. The tree-creeper, 
common wren, gold-crested wren, and tits are great destroyers 
of injurious insects, which, on account of the small size, scansorial 
habits, and wonderful activity of these birds, are safe neither in 
the deepest bark-fissures nor on the most delicate of twigs. 
Their usefulness, therefore, no less than the charm they lend to 
our woodlands, renders these birds worthy of every protection. 
Then, we have swallows, pipets, wagtails, the hedge-sparrow, 
warblers, the redbreast, red-start, chats, fly-catchers, and the 
starling, all of which are useful in the highest degree, and, if we 
except the starling’s partiality for cherries, possess no bad 
qualities to detract from their merits. Many other birds, such 
as the rook, jackdaw, sparrow, finches, and owls, destroy insects 
when they come in their way or when no other food presents 
itself, but, on account of the damage which they cause to crops 
or game, they cannot be regarded as worthy of unconditional 
preservation, though, under certain circumstances, the advantages 
which their presence ensures may outweigh any drawbacks. 
Now, it must be borne in mind that it is not sufficient merely 
to preserve our useful birds from destruction, but means must 
also be taken to secure their increase. This may be accomplished 
in a variety of ways. During severe weather in winter, food 
must be supplied. Very suitable for this purpose are the clean- 
ings of grain or hay-seed, though for tits animal food, such as 
lard, must be provided. In order to set it beyond the reach 
of crows, dogs, cats, etc., it should be placed in the shell of a 
cocoa-nut or some such receptacle, and suspended by a string from 
the bough of a tree. 
The numbers of our useful birds may also be largely increased 
by providing them with suitable nesting and sleeping places. 
Many of the forester’s best friends only breed in holes, so that 
unless hollow trees, loosely-built walls, or artificial breeding-places 
are to be had, it is quite impossible for them to build their nests 
and rear their young. Holes in trees and walls are the places 
where, in this country, nearly all our hole-breeding birds are 
reared, but, as a general rule, such places do not offer great 
safety from the attacks of cats, weasels, and other predaceous 
animals, either to the parent birds or their brood. It is, there- 
