38 OUR NATIVE BIRDS 
St. Paul, Minn., has had bluebirds nesting in boxes, 
which he had painted a dark green so as to harmonize 
with the foliage of oaks. 
5. Hlycatchers. — Those that live near dwellings fre- 
quently build on the window caps, if they are protected 
by an overhanging roof. The favorite nesting places 
for the phoebe are the beams of bridges. The boys can 
do the birds a favor by nailing strips of laths or pieces 
of boards horizontally to the beams. A _ little shelf 
thus constructed under a projecting roof is also readily 
used. Near the nest must be a convenient perch from 
where the birds can watch for flying insects, which they 
can do from wires, posts, dead branches, and small dead 
trees. 
6. Swallows. — Nail bracket shelves to any conven- 
ient beams and rafters in machine sheds, corn-bins, hay- 
lofts, and barns. ‘The boards used may be from two to 
four inches wide. Sheltered places on the outside of 
buildings are also good; out-buildings should have 
openings for the birds. 
T. The Purple Martin. — This bird will nest in 
almost any box of the right size in the right place, it 
will even use boxes of planed and painted boards. 
The inside measure should be about 10 x 8 x 8, the 
entrance about 24 inches in diameter near the top and 
should have no perches. ‘They seem to like a martin 
house consisting of several apartments. The house 
may be fixed on a stout post or on the top of a building. 
8. The Small Owls. —The barn owl, long-eared owl, 
barred owl, short-eared owl, and screech owl are bene- 
