BIRDS OF NEW YORK 55 



larger species six inches in diameter, cut diagonally at either end so that 

 they could be nailed to the side of a large branch or the main trunk of the 

 tree at a moderate elevation. For smaller species like the Downy wood- 

 pecker and Nuthatch, the limbs need not be more than four inches in 

 diameter. In the case of the Nuthatch, Crested flycatcher and Chickadee, 

 the branches erected for their accommodation should be hollowed artificially, 

 the size of the entrance being accommodated to the size of the bird expected 

 as an inmate. Mr William Brewster and Mr E. H. Forbush have recom- 

 mended nesting boxes made of the bark of birch and elm nailed at the 

 ends to rounded boards. Branches of these trees cut in late spring or 

 early summer may be peeled with comparative ease. They should be cut 

 in the lengths desired, eight to ten inches for chickadees, nuthatches and 

 bluebirds, and a hole of the proper diameter bored before the sections are 

 peeled. The Chickadee limbs should have the entrance hole about one 

 and one-eighth inches in diameter; nuthatches, one and one-half inches; 

 Crested flycatcher, one and three-fourths inches. In some localities bird 

 lovers have found that Downy woodpeckers and nickers take possession of 

 hollowed limbs provided the entrance hole is of a proper size (see descrip- 

 tion of the nesting holes of the various species of woodpecker which the 

 bird fancier wishes to attract). Holes should be round or nearly so and 

 the depth of the excavated interior correspond nearly with the holes usually 

 constructed by these birds for their own accommodation. The experience 

 of bird lovers in various parts of the country shows that Screech owls may 

 also be attracted to limbs of this description, likewise the Sparrow hawk, 

 and in rare instance, the Wood duck. We believe that hollowed limbs or 

 even boxes, especially if covered with bark or constructed from bark- 

 covered slabs, should be erected in the swamps frequented by the Wood 

 duck so that the gradual disappearance of hollow trees in these localities 

 should not force this interesting species to desert the locality from failure 

 of suitable nesting sites. These boxes or hollow limbs for the Wood duck 

 should have an entrance hole four or five inches in diameter and be placed 

 at an altitude of at least fifteen to twenty feet from the ground. 



