1914] The Ottawa Naturalist. 169 



planted. If this is placed in a wooded corner of the garden or 

 shrubbery it will be constantly visited by all kinds of small 

 birds. 



The foregoing discussion of the advantages and methods 

 of bird protection leads me to the chief object of this lecture, 

 namely, the outlining of a definite scheme for the protection 

 and encouragement of the birds of Ottawa, which scheme, I am 

 pleased to say, has been enthusiastically adopted by the Ottawa 

 Field-Naturalists' Club. Those who have lived in Ottawa for 

 a number of vears will have observed with regret the destruction 

 one by one of places which were the haunts of many wild 1 irds 

 The rapid growth of the city and the outward march of the streets 

 and houses have driven the birds from their former quarters. 

 We are now witnessing the destruction of one of the most de- 

 lightful of all nature spots around Ottawa, namely Beaver 

 Meadow. The city is gaining in population and taxes at the 

 expense of natural beauty. But as we cannot and should not 

 w r ish to prevent such extension, we should take every means 

 possible to offset the losses in natural beauty so occasioned. 



There are within the city limits, but at present on the 

 outskirts of the built-over districts, two areas unequalled by their 

 natural beauty for the purpose we have in view. I refer to 

 Rockeliffe Park and the grounds and Botanical Garden of the 

 Dominion Government's Experimental Farm. The former, being 

 a piece of woodland and forest rescued from the hand of the lum- 

 berman and builder, is one of the most beautiful natural parks in 

 eastern Canada. The Experimental Farm, laid out and planted 

 about twenty-six years ago.is even better suited to the purpose 

 in view, owdng to the abundance of trees and shrubs of all kinds, 

 especiallv those bearing wild fruits. Since the establishment 

 of the farm, efforts have been made to prevent the destruction 

 of the birds and the robbing of their nests and Mr. W. T . Macoun, 

 the Dominion Horticulturist, showed great zeal in this protection. 



It is proposed to regard these two areas as bird sanctuaries 

 in which steps shall be taken not only to prevent the destruc- 

 tion of the birds and the despoiling of their nests, but also to 

 encourage their presence by providing those species which nest 

 in holes and cavities with nesting boxes and sites. I am very 

 pleased to sav that the Ottawa Improvement Commission have 

 consented to provide and distribute this spring two hundred 

 and fiftv nest boxes in Rockeliffe Park, and to constitute the same 

 as a bird sanctuarv. The Director of the Experimental Farms 

 has agreed to the distribution in the spring of one hundred and 

 sixty nesting boxes in the grounds of the Farm and the Botan- 

 ical Garden, which will constitute a sanctuary. Apart from 



