Birds in Relation to Forestry. 81 



CHAPTER VII. 



BIRDS IN RELATION TO FORESTRY. 



" Interference with the balance of Nature must only be under- 

 taken with knowledge and discretion.'' 



O. HERMANN (64, p. 381). 



The wild birds that are directly hurtful to foiests in this country 

 are happily few in number, whilst the majority of species found in 

 or near forests are distinctly beneficial. 



The destructive species destroy buds, young shoots, and seed- 

 lings, they scratch up sowings and seed beds, feeding upon the seeds. 

 Some damage or eat the fruits, whilst a few do damage to the trees 

 by making holes in them. 



Of the beneficial species, those which destroy such small 

 mammals as field mice, voles, shrews, moles and rabbits, are ex 

 tremely valuable, as well as the purely insectivorous species. 



The chief destructive species are : 



Siskin, Chrysomitris spinus (Linn.). 



Greenfinch Ligurinus chloris (Linn.). 



Hawfinch, Coccothraustes vulgaris, Pall. 



Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs, Linn. 



Bramling, Fringilla montifringilla, Linn. 



Crossbill, Loxia curvirostra, Linn. 



Nutcracker, Nucifraga caryocatactes (Linn.). 



Jay, Garrulus glandarius (Linn.). 



Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopus major (Linn.). 



Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopus minor (Linn.). 



Green Woodpecker, Gecinus viridis (Linn.). 



Wood Pigeon, Columba palumbus, Linn. 



Stock Dove, Columbacenas, Linn. 



Turtle Dove, Turtur communis, Selby. 



Capercaillie, Tetrao urogallus, Linn. 



Black Grouse, Tetrao tetrix, Linn. 



Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus, Linn. 



