Birds as Crop Protectors 



reduced burning of grouse moors and upland 

 pastures, and also to the absence of PLOVERS 

 and STARLINGS (Dumfries and Galloway Stan- 

 dard, 2O.vi.i7, and Royal Society for the Pro- 

 tection of Birds : Annual Report, 1918). A 

 similar plague of caterpillars spoilt the early 

 promise of a great fruit crop in France (Daily 

 Mail, 22.vi.i7). 



There can be no doubt that popular feeling 

 was against birds in general; moreover 

 throughout 1917 there was a lamentable 

 scarcity of the smaller species, due mainly 

 to the abnormally severe weather conditions 

 experienced in the earlier months of the year. 

 This scarcity was deplored by the bird-lover, 

 but should also have been regretted by the 

 agriculturist, who should have realised that 

 insects, which it is all but impossible to keep 

 in check by human means, are effectually 

 controlled in their earlier stages by birds. 



The misdeeds of birds are much more mani- 

 fest than the benefits they confer upon us, 

 and, sure enough, with the approach of spring 

 in 1918, the old outcry against them was 

 reiterated in the newspapers. It was asked, 



35 



