310 BIRDS IX THEIR RELATIONS TO MAN. 



and illustrated in the accompanying picture. ''It is made of 

 bricks and cement and in cross-section resembles the diagram 

 on the previous page. 



" Boards may be used to form partitions, which should be 

 filled with earth. The plants introduced were sagittaria, iris, 

 yellow pond-lily, wild rice, duckweed, and water-hyacinth. 

 The pond is filled from a hose and replenished as evaporation 

 requires.*' This bath was not only a pretty bit of adornment 

 to the lawn, but also proved very attractive as a bathing-place 

 for birds. 



In his admirable little leaflet on "The Birds and I," Pro- 

 fessor L. H. Bailey writes : " For some kinds of birds we can 

 build houses. Some of the many forms which can be used 

 are shown in the pictures. Any ingenious boy can suggest a 

 dozen other patterns. Although birds may not appreciate 

 architecture, it is well to make the houses neat and tasty by 

 taking pains to have the proportions right. The floor-space 

 in each compartment should be not less than five by six 

 inches, and six by six or six by eight may be better. By 

 cutting the boards in multiples of these numbers, one can 

 easily make a house with several compartments ; for there 

 are some birds, as martins, tree-swallows, and pigeons, that 

 like to live in families or colonies. The size of the doorway 

 is important. It should be just large enough to admit the 

 bird. A larger oi)ening not only looks bad, but it exposes 

 the inliabitants to dangers of cats and other enemies. Birds 

 \vhich build in houses, aside from doves and pigeons, are 

 bluebirds, wrens, tree-swallows, martins, and sometimes the 

 chickadee. For the wren and chickadee the opening should 

 be an inch-and-a-half auger-hole, and for the others it should 

 be two inches. Only one opening should be provided for 

 each house or compartment. A perdi or door-step should be 

 provided just below each door. It is here that the birds often 

 stop to arrange their toilets ; and Avhen the mistress is busy 

 with domestic affairs in-doors, the male bird often sits outside 



