NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



just large enough for the bird you want — no larger. 

 This will tend to keep out larger birds as well as the 

 birds' enemies, will give the bird a better chance to 

 defend its home, and will save material. 



" 6. Make nesting boxes of weathered wood, or 

 paint or stain them with coloured linseed oil of a 

 neutral tint resembling dead wood or bark, or put them 

 up in the fall that they may become weather stained 



Old tins securely fixed to poles or 

 branches make good nesting 

 places for birds. 



The bored out section of 

 a tree trunk makes a 

 nice nesting box. 



before spring. Apparently birds are less suspicious 

 of such boxes than of those made of new, bright 

 lumber, but they have been known to use the newest 

 of the new. 



" 7. Fix nesting boxes on buildings or on poles 

 rather than on trees, and make them inaccessible to 

 cats, squirrels, mice, rats, and snakes. 



" 8. When it seems best to put them in trees, 

 choose isolated trees which can be protected against 

 cats, squirrels, weasels, etc. 



" 9. Ordinarily ventilation is unnecessary if the 

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