388 Junior Naturalist Monthly. 



2. For wrens and chickadees, the doorway should be an inch angnr 

 hole. For bluebirds, tree-swallows, or martins, the doorway should 

 measure about one-and-a-half inches. A perch should be placed beneath 

 each doorway. 



3. See that your bird house is out of the reach of cats and other 

 enemies. 



4. Keep the cat from roaming about at night during the nesting 

 season. Tie a bell on her neck when she is out in the daytime. A tin 

 shelf placed around a tree about eight feet from the ground will prevent 

 cats from climbing the tree. The shelf may be used as a dining table for 

 the birds. Place food and water on it occasionally. 



The little bird sits at his door in the sun, 



Atilt like a blossom among the leaves. 



And lets his illumined being o'crrun 



With the deluge of summer it receives ; 



His mate feels the eggs beneath her wings ; 



And the heart in her dumb breast flutters and sings ; 



He sings to the wide world, and she to her nest, — 



In the nice ear of Nature which song is the best? 



— James Russell Lowell. 



AN OUTDOOR SCENE IN MARCH 



Some day when you have to write a composition in school, I wish 

 you would ask your teacher to let you go to the window, or st^nd in 

 your school yard for a few minutes, so that you may be able to describe 

 a snow scene. Nearly always we have snow in March; if, however, you 

 have to write your composition some day when there is no snow, describe 

 the landscape as you find it. Make a copy of your composition and send 

 it to Uncle John. 



If you will notice Fig. 5, you will find a very interesting scene. As 

 you look at it, I am sure you would like to go to the bit of wood that you 

 see in the distance ; that you would like to walk over the snow-covered 

 hillside, or ])crhaps to stop a minute to talk with some one whom you 

 might find living in the home at the foot of the hill, ^^'hat arc the two 

 trees that stand so boldly in the foreground ? \\' hat trees do you know 

 that hold the leaves through the winter? Notice the snow- that clings 

 to the tree trunks, and notice also the little weedy things growing on the 

 ground near the base of the trees. These weedy things in winter are 

 interesting to me. What kind of trees do you suppose those are standing 

 between the rail fence and the farm house, — the trees that look so far 

 away? Do you think you have such a pretty scene near your home? 



