38 OUR NATIVE BIRDS 



St. Paul, Minn., has had bluebirds nesting in boxes, 

 which he had painted a dark green so as to harmonize 

 with the foliage of oaks. 



5. Flycatchers. Those that live near dwellings fre- 

 quently build on the window caps, if they are protected 

 by an overhanging roof. The favorite nesting places 

 for the phcebe are the beams of bridges. The boys can 

 do the birds a favor by nailing strips of laths or pieces 

 of boards horizontally to the beams. A little shelf 

 thus constructed under a projecting roof is also readily 

 used. Near the nest must be a convenient perch from 

 where the birds can watch for flying insects, which they 

 can do from wires, posts, dead branches, and small dead 

 trees. 



6. Swallows. Nail bracket shelves to any conven- 

 ient beams and rafters in machine sheds, corn-bins, hay- 

 lofts, and barns. The boards used may be from two to 

 four inches wide. Sheltered places on the outside of 

 buildings are also good ; out-buildings should have 

 openings for the birds. 



7. The Purple Martin. This bird will nest in 

 almost any box of the right size in the right place, it 

 will even use boxes of planed and painted boards. 

 The inside measure should be about 10 x 8 x 8, the 

 entrance about 2J inches in diameter near the top and 

 should have no perches. They seem to like a martin 

 house consisting of several apartments. The house 

 may be fixed on a stout post or on the top of a building. 



8. The Small Owls. The barn owl, long-eared owl, 

 barred owl, short-eared owl, and screech owl are bene- 



