NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



as hay, straw, cotton, hair, feathers, and string. The 

 string should be cut into small pieces of 6 to 1 2 inches 

 in length. These materials can be scattered about 

 near the nesting boxes, or hung in bundles on fences 

 or on branches of trees. 



In countries where the common European sparrow 

 occurs, it is often necessary to make war on them 

 when they are too abundant, owing to their habit 



Crocheted Bag filled with suet, 

 attached to board, then 

 fixed to tree. 



Suet tied to a branch. 



of monopolising the nesting boxes. They often wait 

 until a pair of useful birds have built a cosy nest in a 

 box, and then boldly and impudently take possession 

 of it. Eminently useful birds are driven from the 

 neighbourhood in this way. The Cape sparrow or 

 mossie does the same, only to a much lesser degree, 

 owing probably to natural building sites being 

 abundant. 



During the cold winter months birds may be 

 kept in the vicinity of a homestead by judicious feeding. 

 Insects are comparatively scarce in winter, and unless 



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