109 



south of England, we should recommend pro- 

 tection for both of these birds. 



The Fieldfare. — We regret to learn that 

 fruit growers in certain districts have been 

 destroying this bird. As it only arrives in 

 this country in October and leaves about the 

 end of April or early in May, it does not 

 affect the fruit grower; to the farmer it is a 

 mcfst valuable bird. 



In addition to the above mentioned species 

 there are a number of others that occasionally 

 damage fruit, but they are seldom sufficiently 

 numerous to prove serious, and in most cases 

 they are birds that also consume large quan- 

 tities of injurious insects. 



We huve not mentioned the Blackbird as 

 our investigations are as yet incomplete, but 

 at present it is certainly much too numerous 

 in certain fruit growing districts. The eggs 

 should be collected and destroyed. 



Conclusions. 



In conclusion let us emphasise this one 

 fact : viz., that the fruit grower has much 

 more to fear from injurious insects than wild 

 birds, these latter exercise a natural control 

 of the greatest value, and while we are not at 

 all in favour of all-round protection of all 

 wild birds, we strongly recommend the greatest 

 caution in any action of a repressive nature, 

 and only on the advice and under the super- 

 vision of an expert. 



While we must endeavour to keep under 

 control all species that show an abnormal 

 increase, it behoves us also to do all in our 

 power to increase and protect the truly in- 

 sectivorous species, especially the summer 

 and autumn migrants. Any policy of general 

 destruction will, we are sure, prove most 

 disastrous to the fruit growing industry. 



