228 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 



E. H. C. notes- 

 February 21 to March 1. This was a week of intermittent 

 snow storms and sleet, frost of varying intensity at night, and 

 low temperature daily. 



During the last week in April, Oak and Beech burst into 

 leaves, and the Birch greenery was then well out. 



April 28. A very hot day. A bright cloudless morning in 

 Poole that gave place to a heavy overcast afternoon with thick 

 haze obscuring the distance. As the afternoon advanced, 

 the clouds became heavier and assumed the rosy glow that 

 denotes that nature is getting ready to adjust " her voltage 

 account." About 4.30 I saw a heavy flash over Lytchett 

 Beacon, and shortly afterwards noticed smoke rising from the 

 heather, and a few minutes after the heath was well alight. 

 During the next half hour the storm was very general over 

 Poole and Parkstone and rain fell heavily. The heath fire 

 was extinguished by the rain. I noted this unusual cause of 

 heath fire, as I am convinced by long observation that 90 per 

 cent, of the destructive fires that consume thousands of pounds 

 (sterling) worth of potential and actual timber are the result 

 of arson. 



22 May. An exceedingly fierce heath fire swept from Hatch 

 Pond up Haymoor Bottom as far as the motor road, destroying 

 a great many young fir trees and birches, and an untold 

 amount of wild life. Just as E.H.C. is convinced (" In 1918 

 I obtained evidence of this as to this fire. W.P.C.") that the 

 Easter fire was started by inhabitants of Newtown, he is 

 equally convinced that this fire was started by someone 

 residing in the Waterloo district. Our united experience 

 and observation is that heath fires are due to the following 

 causes, in order of importance : 



(i.) The practice of supplying fire -beaters with beer 



ad lib. 



(ii.) Payment for services rendered in stopping fires, 

 (iii.) Allowing cottagers and others to hack down dead trees 



killed by fire and use them as firewood. 



