570 



Canadian Forestry Journal, June, ipi6. 



An Avenue of Green Ash, fifteen years from the seed, on the ranch of Dixon Bros., 



Maple Creek, Sask. 



The War and the Small Birds 



(From "Rci'uc des Bans et Fords") 



It is with great pleasure that I 

 have received from various regions 

 of France news about the number 

 of small birds. Especially in the 

 east, in the west and in the south- 

 east the birds are more numerous 

 than in preceding years. The quail, 

 so rare two years ago, has returned 

 to some extent everywhere ; they 

 were pointed out to me in the neigh- 

 borhood of Belfort, where they had 

 not been seen for a long time. Part- 

 ridges, thrushes, blackbirds are 

 numerous : the starlings have be- 

 come much more numerous. The 

 fine swallows which defend us from 

 moscjuitoes are numerous, perhaps 

 because they have not been able or 

 did not wish to settle in the many 



villages which have been destro3'ed 

 in the north or the northeast. 



However, most of the small birds 

 have become familiar with war, as 

 many species, like the pipit and the 

 lark, are not afraid to settle on the 

 firing line beside the batteries or the 

 first line trenches, as the Count of 

 Tristan pointed out to me at Nieu- 

 port. The greenfinches and the lin- 

 nets, not having found bushes for 

 their nests, have settled on the 

 ground. 



The war will thus have an ap- 

 preciable influence on the increase 

 <it the small birds which eat insects 

 and grain. This favorable situation 

 is due : 



(1) To the absence of hunters. 



