90 The Food ot Some British Wild Birds. 



CHAPTER IX. 



PROTECTIVE MEASURES. 



" / would submit that it is a matter for serious consideration , 

 whether the great encouragement of bird-life beyond the natural 

 balance, such as is now often recommended, may not lead to very 

 contrary results to what is intended.'' 



E. A. ORMEROD, Rpt. Inj. Ins., 1883, p. v. 



The Planting of Wild Fruit Trees. 



It has been suggested (86) that it is desirable to plant in the 

 neighbourhood of orchards, trees, the fruits of which are of little or 

 no value to man, but which to birds are more acceptable than tine 

 cultivated kinds, such for instance as the Russian mulberry (Morus 

 alba), the paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyri f era), the European 

 bird cherry (Prunus padus), the choke cherry (P. virginiana), the 

 black cherry (P. serotinia), the bird cherry (P. pennsylvanica) , the 

 elders (Sambucus). 



In introducing such trees into hedgerows, etc., it must be 

 remembered that there is always the possible danger of their being a 

 worse pest than the birds, as they might serve as breeding grounds 

 for various insect pests injurious to cultivated fruits, particularly 

 so the various species of Prunus. 



Bird Sanctuaries. 



Wherever special protection is provided with a view to en- 

 couraging or increasing bird life, great care is necessary. There can 

 be little doubt but that the indiscriminate protection of wild birds 

 has had much to do with the abundance of many species at the 

 present time. In bird sanctuaries there is naturally a reluctance 

 to destroy any birds, in consequence of which protection is afforded 

 to species, which when present in large numbers become distinctly 

 injurious. 



