CHAPTER IX 



INJURIES FROM ANIMALS AND BIRDS 



THOUGH not considerable and usually of local 

 occurrence, yet the amount of damage done 

 to trees by animals and birds should receive 

 attention. Red deer, hares, rabbits, squirrels, 

 rats, and mice are amongst animal foes ; whilst 

 under destructive birds might be included the 

 ptarmigan, grouse, pigeon, woodpecker, cross- 

 bill, starling, and various species of finches. 



Buds of most coniferous trees are freely eaten 

 by the blackcock and grouse ; the pigeon feeds 

 largely on acorns and beech-mast ; while finches 

 and the crossbill devour and destroy quantities 

 of tree seeds, the latter favouring those of the 

 Scotch pine, spruce, and other coniferous trees. 

 The bullfinch preys on the early tender shoots 

 of the larch, and is particularly destructive to 

 the buds of the currant and gooseberry. 



M9 



