66 OUR NATIVE BIRDS 



inches long. These pieces should project at right 

 angles to the outside. Connect these cross pieces by 

 closely-drawn wires or by wire netting. A few barbed 

 wires should be strung along the outer horizontal edge 

 of this fence. Cover the outer ends of the cross pieces 

 by a coil of barbed wire. A fence of that kind, I 

 think, will keep out all wingless unbidden guests. 

 The meshes in the wire must, of course, not be too 

 large, there must be no holes left near the ground, 

 and no posts, walls, or trees from which cats can jump 

 into the enclosure. The appearance of such fences 

 can be much improved by using them as support for 

 annual climbing plants, such as the Mock Apple, or 

 Wild Cucumber, Micrampelis lobata, Green. In fact, 

 any ornamental climber which grows in your sections, 

 and does not form wood enough for cats to climb on, 

 will answer the purpose. Instead of wire netting, a 

 strong, well-tarred fish net 6 feet or more in height 

 may be used with good results. From time to time 

 the net must receive a fresh application of tar. 



Nests on trees may be protected in the following 

 way : unravel a piece of rope, until you have a string 

 of loose fibres. Wind several coils of this around 

 the tree, and then cover the coils of rope with a 

 thick coating of tar. Fresh applications of tar must 

 be made as they become necessary. The tarred rope 

 also keeps caterpillars from crawling up the trees. 



Another means of preventing cats from climbing 

 trees is the following ; cut a piece of wire netting 

 on the bias and fasten it to the trunk like a hat rim. 



