88 OUR VANISHING FORESTS 



And then, there are the forest birds and animals. 

 Indeed birds are nature's foresters, for they require 

 no appropriation from a Department of Agricul- 

 ture to pursue their work of devouring insects and 

 other destroyers, which are alike the enemy of farm 

 and city dwellers. Even the much criticized hawks 

 and owls prey upon rabbits and mice which live by 

 gnawing the bark of young seedlings. Bird lovers, 

 therefore, from befriending the birds came to be- 

 friend the forests, and, while trees still seemed to 

 stand as an obstacle to the advance of civilization, 

 societies were already setting aside woodland lots 

 where the feathered tribe might dwell and multiply 

 unmolested. It is significant, perhaps, that one of 

 the many ways in which America has extended the 

 hand of friendship to crippled Europe has been in 

 the gift of bird houses and feeding stations for the 

 protection of birds in the few remaining woods of 

 Belgium and northern France. 



The animals of the woods are important in a dif- 

 ferent way. Their value lies chiefly in skins, furs 

 and food, but unless there are forests in which they 

 may live and multiply, those supplies will soon cease. 

 Although we no longer rely upon game It neverthe- 

 less furnishes us many million dollars worth of food 

 every year. In England the propagation of game 

 has been one primary reason for the existence of 



