Of wild animals, Red Squirrels are far the most destructive to young birds and 
eggs; Chipmunks and Grays are also destructive but not nearly as active or impu- 
dent as the Reds. Skunks, Foxes and Weasels are smaller factors in the decrease 
of bird life. 
Birds of prey have but little to do with the question of bird protection for, 
with a few exceptions, they rarely feed upon other birds, and nearly all of them 
are of considerable economic value themselves. Jays, Crows and Grackles, by 
devouring the eggs and young of our smaller birds, are a far greater menace than 
are the birds of prey, but even these have their work and should be left in the 
place that Nature intended for them; they should, however, be taught to keep 
away from the neighborhood of houses. 
How Can We Attract Birds About Our Homes?—Many birds prefer to live in 
the vicinity of houses, and they soon learn where they are welcome. Keep your 
premises as free as possible from cats, dogs, and especially English Sparrows, and 
other birds will come. Robins, Orioles, Kingbirds, Waxwings and a few others 
will nest in orchard trees, while in dead limbs or bird boxes will be found Blue- 
birds, Wrens Swallows, Woodpeckers, Chickadees, etc. 
A house for Purple Martins may contain many apartments; it should be erect- 
ed in an open space, on a ten or twelve foot pole. Boxes for other birds should 
have but one compartment, and should be about six by six by eight inches, with a 
hole at least one and one-half inches in diameter in one side; these can be fas- 
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