A Plea for the Birds 335 



Put the bird bath well up away from the reach of 

 cats. Many a bird has met an untimely death 

 while in the act of taking his bath. The cat only 

 too soon learns that this is a favorite spot of the 

 birds and will lie quietly in wait for hours to get a 

 chance to pounce upon his tender little prey. 



A nest built like his native wood's nest will make 

 a bird very happy. In every way make their new 

 surroundings as much like the natural home as 

 possible. Birds often droop and die from sheer 

 homesickness, when a bit of green and a homelike 

 nest would have kept up their spirits. 



One screech owl will make an interesting pet, but 

 when two screech owls are put in a cage together, 

 all but the bones and feathers of one may be 

 missing in the morning. They frequently eat their 

 own kind. 



The most humane way to get rid of English spar- 

 rows is never to let the eggs hatch. If the nests 

 and eggs are watched closely these little birds 

 can be eliminated. It seems cruel, but they are a 

 proven pest and in no way a pleasure. In the 

 State of New York there is a fine imposed for feed- 

 ing them. 



