4C The Wilson Bulletin — No. 98 



hang, on nine foot tubular steel posts. The fence is at present 

 about five feet high, but the posts are high enough for two or three 

 feet additional if necessary. A strong cat might bound over this 

 fence from outside, but owing to the thick bushes, would have 

 great difficulty getting out, and cats are very cautious of getting 

 into any place which instinct warns them would be diflBcult of 

 egress. I am positive no cat has ever been inside the enclosure, 

 but a cat-trap is kept set and well-baited during the nesting season 

 as a final precaution. Originally the location of the shelter was a 

 rather unsightly rubbish pile, overgrown by elderberries. After 

 deciding to make it useful, it was renovated, and other shrubs and 

 vines planted. It now contains, besides elderberries, honeysuckles, 

 hazel, wild gooseberries, a small wild cherry tree, hardy climbers 

 such as bitter-sweet and green brier, and the self-planting wild 

 cucumber. All these are native except the honeysuckles, and will 

 thrive without cultivation. From time to time I intend to add other 

 rarer wild shrubs and vines, making it a preserve for plants as 

 well as birds. Almost impenetrable in summer, in early fall it is 

 full of wild fruit relished by nearly all its feathered visitors. 



Just outside the fence is a concrete bird bath and fountain 

 formed in three shallow pools, one above the other, the lowest of 

 ample diameter and gently sloping bottom. City water is con- 

 ducted by a hose, permitting a gentle trickle which adds to the 

 attraction of the pools as well as keeping the contents cool and 

 sweet. 



By this combination of water and shelter there has been at- 

 tracted a very interesting variety of birds, which we have had a 

 splendid chance to study almost without leaving the house, a 

 strong binocular bringing any object within close range. Many 

 kinds of birds were seen right at home that we probably could not 

 have found in the open country. 



The following list of visitors may be somewhat disappointing to 

 those expecting great results the first season, but I am sure it 

 would have been much increased if closer observations were made 

 in the migration period, and especially early in the morning: 



NAME. DATE. 



Least (or Acadian) flycatcher March 29th. 



Juncoes March 31st. 



An unidentified native sparrow April 8th. 



Another species of native spar- Same day. Fine and unusual 



row song. 



Migrant warbler, yellow sides April 28th. 



Other native sparrows Same day. 



Maryland Yellow-throat May 10th. 



