THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS. 



395 



Europe or west of the Rocky Mountains, but it is unsafe 

 here, where our severest rainstorms come from the north- 

 east. The entrance shoukl face the south or west, wherever 

 possible. It is also best to have boxes, especially tin ones, 

 so situated that they will be .shaded by trees or buildings 



Fig. 168. — Chickadees feeding their young in an observation box at the author's 

 window. (From Reed's American Ornitliology.) 



during the hotter part of the day. By these precautions 

 we may guard against the danger of having the young birds 

 wet and chilled by cold storms or overheated by the sun. 

 In very hot weather 3^oung birds in unshaded boxes some- 

 times die from excessive heat. 



Those who wish to study the domestic affairs of birds may 

 construct an observation box with a door on one side, back 

 of which a pane of glass is set. Such a bird house may be 

 set up on a window sill, so that by opening the door the feed- 

 ing and care of the young birds may be watched through the 



