INSECT-EATING BIRDS. 



169 



means for promoting their multiplication should also be under- 

 taken. The following points should be attended to : 



(i) Preservation of a few hollow trees in forests, as such trees 

 harbour useful birds and bats. 



(ii) The provision of boxes or vessels for nest-building on 

 trees. These may be made of earthenware, of wood, of plaited 

 straw, or tarred basket-work. Even dried hollow bottle-gourds 

 may be used for titmice. The earthenware vessels should be 

 of the shape given in the figure, and have a wooden base, and 

 before hanging up should be tarred and covered with moss. 



Figs. 62 and 63. Earthenware nesting-pots. 



a. Nail-hole for attachment to the tree, b, Hole for insertion of a wooden peg 

 to assist the bird in entering, c, Flight-hole, d, Holes for the passage of a wire, 

 to attach the bottom of the pot to a piece of wood. 



The wooden nesting-boxes invented by Gloger * in 1853 are 

 made out of half-inch boards, and tarred. There are- six 

 kinds, including those shown in the figures, and suitable for 

 starlings, flycatchers, and titmice. Some are used for the birds 

 to sleep in as well as for nests. The horizontal partition 

 shown in the figures excludes cats, pole-cats, and other enemies, 

 and also keeps the nest warm. It is essential to keep to the 

 dimensions indicated by the reduced figures, or the nesting-box 

 will be used by other species, for which it was not intended. 



* "Nist-und Schlafkasteii fur Vogel." Allg. Font u. Jagd. Zeitung, 1864, 

 p. 120. Prices are there given for the nesting-boxes. 



