282 WITH THE U. S. NATURALISTS 



and the farms would suffer if these birds were 

 driven away. It has found that many birds will 

 accept substitute nesting sites, some even of the 

 simplest character. Flower-pots lying on their 

 sides or old tin cans nailed endwise to a tree have 

 been used by House Wrens, Tree Swallows and 

 Bluebirds. But to secure the best results you 

 should get the practically perfect Berlepsch boxes^ 

 or follow the plans which the United States Gov- 

 ernment has prepared for its feathered tenants — 

 the birds. ^ But, in general, any box 14 inches high 

 at the back, 12 inches at the front, 6 inches wide 

 and 6 inches deep, with a hinged sloping top 

 11 X 71/^ to keep off the rain and a perfect round 

 hole in the front IV2 inches in diameter will make 

 a good home for a Bluebird ; or if the hole is li/4 

 inches, it will do for a Chickadee, Nuthatch or 

 House Wren.'^ 



''And do you just nail them up anywhere?" 

 ''Not a bit of it," was the reply. "You've got 

 to consult birds' ways. Bluebirds like their nests 



1 The author detests "free advertising," but for the sake of the 

 birds is willing to mention that reliable boxes are made by the 

 Audubon Bird House Co., Meriden, N. H. The market is flooded 

 with imitations. 



2 Farmers' Bulletin No. 609, "Bird Houses and how to build 

 them." U. S. Biological Survey, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, 

 Washington, D. C. Sent free on request. 



