CARE AND PROTECTION OF FORESTS. 71 



In the mountains around Sewanee, Monteagle, Tracy City and South 

 Pittsburg, I have recently seen streams swollen out of all proportion, be- 

 cause the repeated forest fires have prevented the accumulation of a 

 thorough ground cover. There can be no question that the high waters 

 of the streams of Tennessee, during the wet season of the year and the 

 low water during the dry season, are partly due to the destruction by fire 

 of the leaf litter on the forested lands. 



Fire damage to birds and game. There is a great deal said about the 

 general scarcity of birds and game. Not only are certain kinds of song 

 birds rare, but also game birds, such as quail, and turkey, becoming scarce. 

 Deer are rare and apparently becoming fewer in numbers, and likewise 

 other wild animals that in many parts of the State used to afford the 

 hunter a certain amount of sport and profit. While this may be largely 

 due to other causes, yet forest fires can certainly be held responsible for 

 taking a part in it. There are certain restrictions by law that place a 

 protective influence around game and birds. Some are protected all the 

 time, others in certain seasons of the year, and during the open season 

 the number lawful to bag in a day is limited. But forest fires are freely 

 permitted to destroy and drive out all they can. They may happen any 

 time of the year when the leaves become dry enough to burn. Certain 

 song birds as well as game birds live in the woods, build their nests in the 

 leaves, grass, shrubs and bushes, and rear their young there. If the woods 

 burn before the nests are built, the ground litter is destroyed in many in- 

 stances so that it does not furnish proper nesting places. The birds are 

 thus forced to other quarters. The nests are exposed to fire danger from 

 the time they are built until abandoned by the young birds. If the woods 

 burn after the nests contain eggs or young birds, there is no question as 

 to what becomes of them. This is true, both of song birds that nest on or 

 near the ground, and of game birds, such as quail and turkey mentioned 

 above. 



Furthermore, forest fires destroy the feed for birds. The flames con- 

 sume seed and other material that support bird life, and make living 

 hard or impossible, for them. Their lodging places, and the small under- 

 growth that protects them, are injured, thus destroying the natural con- 

 ditions under which they thrive. 



The deer is a timid animal and wishes seclusion. When forest fires 

 constantly sweep through the haunts of these animals, they are greatly 

 disturbed and driven out for at least a time. It is said that hunters often 

 start forest fires to rout the deer, and then shoot them when attempting 

 to escape. 



