42 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 



House Sparrow does not care much for a nesting site so low 

 down and easily reached by his greatest enemy, man. For 

 Wrens, Chickadees and Titmice boxes with holes not more 

 than 1 4-inch in diameter will do, while for Bluebirds and 

 Martins 1^ to 2-inch holes are required, and for Screech Owls 

 2^-inch. 



Too large a number of Bronzed Grackles and Blue Jays 

 should not be tolerated, because it has been found that, where 

 these species abound, very few tree-nesting birds of smaller 

 size are reared, and in consequence such places are soon de- 

 serted by the smaller birds, among them some of our best 

 songsters. 



That the nest robbing boy is busy in even such sacred 

 places as Shaw's Garden is evidenced by the fact that nests, 

 known to be with nearly fully grown young one week, had 

 been entirely removed the following week. The numerous 

 hedges of dense shrubbery in the new part of the Garden, de- 

 voted to the North American Synopsis, have induced several 

 species formerly little known in the Garden to nest therein, 

 among them Bell's Vireo, Yellow Warbler, Maryland Yellow- 

 throat, Chat, Traill's Flycatcher and Indigo Bunting. The 

 meadow has attracted several pairs of Meadowlarks and Quails 

 and the lake invites not only the Kingfisher to frequent visits, 

 but also numbers of Swifts and Martins, which hke to hunt 

 over water when on cool days flying insects are scarce else- 

 where. The ripening mulberries are an attraction for flocks 

 of Cedarbirds in early June and the many beautiful flowers 

 charm numbers of Hummingbirds later in summer after they 

 have finished their domestic duties in other less frequented 

 places. 



Denizens. 



QUAIL OR BOB-WHITE. Coliuus virginianus. 



From the first of May to the last of July the Bob-\VTiite is 

 one of the birds oftenest heard, but seldom seen. It is at 

 home in the Garden all the year round, but the loud, clear 

 whistle "bob-white" is only heard during the breeding season. 

 In winter we meet with a covey of a dozen or so in quiet 

 places, where we may see them cross our way, one walking 



