Bird Clubs 279 



the study of birds and advance the cause of bird 

 protection. 



Many of the boys and girls are sure to wish to 

 make nest boxes and food houses, and in some 

 cases the club will be able to follow the example 

 of the Cornfield Bird Club of Cornish, N. H., 

 and employ a manual training teacher. But 

 unless this teacher has a first-hand knowledge 

 of birds he should not be asked to furnish the 

 designs for these appliances; he should be re- 

 quired merely to superintend the manufacture 

 of them from plans obtained by some author- 

 ity on the subject. This is very important, 

 as improperly constructed nest boxes and food 

 shelters are often worse than none, for they fail 

 to attract the birds and thus disappoint and 

 discourage people who might otherwise become 

 bird protectors. The Charlestown (N. H.) Bird 

 Club does not employ a teacher but distributes 

 among its members cardboard patterns from 

 which nest boxes may be made. 



The Walpole Bird Club of Walpole, N. H., 

 has had great success with what it calls "Bird 

 Socials." These are generally held in the fall 

 and winter months and the junior members are 

 invited to meet in some suitable hall or large 

 room under the leadership of older members. 

 The entertainment takes various forms. Some- 



