ENCOURAGING THE PRESENCE OF BIRDS. 315 



into lengths of a foot or so, to avoid some of the bird tragedies 

 which have lately been recorded. 



Finally, birds are encouraged in the same ratio as their 

 enemies are discouraged. In the country, hawks, crows, jays, 

 and squirrels are usually their worst foes. In or near town, 

 boys and cats give most trouble. Eternal vigilance will go 

 a long way, but it will not prevent the ravages of cats. If one 

 wishes to keep cats from marauding on his grounds, he must 

 surround them with a cat-proof fence ; there is no other way. 

 Such a fence may be constructed of woven wire such as is 

 used for hen-yards. It should be not less than six feet high, 

 and at the top there should be an excess of about two feet of 

 the netting left to hang loosely outward nearly horizontally, 

 to head off adventurous climbers. Entrance may be made 

 by means of doors or gates covered with netting, made to 

 swing outward and closed by spring hinges. 



Mr. William Brewster, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, has a 

 fence of this kind around his grounds that has proved a com- 

 plete success. Mr. Brewster informs us that failure to close 

 a door properly admits perhaps one cat a year, but none 

 ever scales the fence from the outside. 



The presence of birds near at hand gives admirable oppor- 

 tunities for hunting with a camera, that merciful sport which 

 is rapidly taking the place of the more cruel hunting with a 

 gun. The improved lenses and cameras now available for 

 this work render it a comparatively simple matter to get pic- 

 tures of birds that shall be a joy to the possessor as well as 

 to all beholders. 



