No. 6. DEJ'AinMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 331 



bc'L'ii ui) oi)pi)iLiiniLj> lor cxLcudcd iu\cstigaLious iu this line; yet 

 a few simple expei-inients were iindeitaken. For example, in erect- 

 ing boxes or houses for nests, I found that the interesting little 

 house wrens would readily nest in the old skull of a beef or horse, 

 01' in a large cigar box with a hole one inch in diameter. This 

 size hole admits the wrens, but excludes the English sparrows. 

 Bluebirds nested in a box 8 in. x 8 in. x 12 in., with a hole, one and 

 one-half inches in diameter cut above the middle of one side. From 

 this box, erected on our front porch, two broods of bluebirds came 

 forth last summer. Upon the same porch were the nests of the 

 bluebirds, the wrens, and the song sparrows. This shows how we 

 may practically aid in establishing colonies of birds. 



A related experiment was in driving awa}^ the English sparrows. 

 The morning the bluebirds were first seen around the box the Eng- 

 glish sparrows were driven away by us, but of course these per- 

 sistent intruders returned and entered into combat with the de- 

 sired tenants. A few missiles convinced the British that over- 

 whelming forces were allied against them, and they retired until 

 toward evening. A skirmish ensued, again ending in favor of the 

 allied forces. For a few days these occasional attacks continued, 

 with the same assistance and results, until the forei'gners learned 

 that they were attempting a campaign of hopeless aggression on 

 the land of irresistible enemies, and the native forces gained confi- 

 dence in their own power and in the faithfulness of their newly- 

 formed allies. Thus were established a happy home and, we hope, 

 mutual pleasures until the sounding of the farewell whistle from 

 a clear slvy one autumn evening, and we hope may be renewed with 

 the joyous twitter indicating the welcome return on a fair spring 

 morning ere long. 



This shows how, in ornithological affairs, to answer such vexing 

 questions as often perplex human beings regarding the erection of 

 suitable tenement houses and securing desirable tenants. 



Another experiment has been in feeding birds. We have found 

 that they will come regularly to food and water placed on a board 

 near a window, where they may be watched and much pleasure 

 derived by watching them. The insectivorous birds of the winter 

 time will enjoy bits of fat meat and crumbs, and nearly all species 

 will eat the parings and cores of apples and other fresh fruits. 

 Also, we have had opportunitj" to definitely observe the satisfactory 

 results of planting mulberry trees near gardens and berry patches 

 to feed the birds and relieve them from the necessity of their slight 

 attacks on the desirable fruits. This we have had verified by re- 

 ports from careful observers from other counties — especially Law- 

 rence. 



We have made some scientific observations along this line that 



