ATTRACTING BIRDS AROUND THE HOME 233 



screw eye, a loop of wire, or hole in the back, which can be 

 placed over a hook; some have an extension of the back 

 by means of which it can be screwed or nailed up ; and others 

 are suspended by wire so as to swing in the wind. 



Protection from cats. Two enemies of our birds are un- 

 fortunately very common, the cat and the English sparrow. 

 The birds can be protected from the cat to some extent in 



FIG. 87. Open nesting boxes. 



the construction of the house, as already explained. Still 

 further protection may be given when the house is put up. 

 A piece of zinc or tin about 2 feet wide may be wrapped 

 around the tree or post 4 feet from the ground and fastened. 

 Another method of protection is to fasten the boxes to the 

 top of posts by means of iron bands two feet long. 



Protection from English sparrows. The wren may be 

 protected against the English sparrow by making the hole 

 so small (i inch) that the sparrow cannot enter. In the 



