Some recent changes in habits and food of British Birds. 



By William Wilson, Kildrummy. 



The above forms rather an interesting- subject and finds the 

 great medium for anything that can be said in the matter through 

 recent enforcement of protective measures, by which a large 

 number of our birds finds shelter which formerly were at the 

 tender mercies of the general crowd. But are now carefully 

 guarded by Acts of Parliament. 



Had not this been brought about, by this time Britain would 

 have had fewer birds. The increasing- number of holidays and the 

 shortening of the hours of labour add to the time as well as the 

 desire for shooting birds. 



While a more careful inspection of their livings has also 

 diverted people authorised to shoot from being so reckless in 

 destroying certain birds. Then we come to consider the general 

 effect of the Protection movement. For instance one would 

 naturally suppose that some birds which were rigorously shot 

 down before would increase greatly. Wliile such birds which were 

 protected before and formed food to the former ones would 

 decrease. Perhaps be decimated. And yet another class, which 

 is not protected any part of the year, and who would naturally 

 come in for a greater amount of persecution would incline people 

 to believe that they would have difficulty in holding their ground 

 among things. 



Next in importance as a factor of change comes the intro- 

 duction of artificial methods to produce birds for sporting purposes 

 such as Pheasants and Partridges. Also state of rabbits, foxes, 

 stoats and so on. 



Not only is the eft'ect produced among themselves to be 

 reckoned with but also the attraction, from morsels of food and 

 so forth left aside by these, created among other birds and which 

 lias a decided cause in altering" the tastes of the latter. 



The other cause of change is the additional care which 

 increasing value has brought out on natural resorts of birds known 

 as game. 



While incidental planting or cutting down of woods — or 

 other landscape alterations. Combined with the nature of a season 

 up to the general results of a number of seasons all play a part in 

 bringing out points in bird life. 



