88 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



birds prefer the board boxes. Von Berlepsch boxes are more 

 in harmony with rural surroundings than are board boxes, and 

 are used by many birds, but certainly are no more attractive 

 to them than are the others. They seem to be the only dom- 

 iciles, however, that attract the typical woodpeckers, such as 

 the downy and hairy species, and the first red-breasted nut- 

 hatch that has been recorded as having reared young in a 

 nesting box occupied one made by the Meriden Bird House 

 Company, and erected by Henry S. Shaw, Jr., of Dover, on a 

 gray birch tree. (See Plate H.) 



In putting up nesting boxes it is best to use whatever the 

 birds of a particular locality seem to prefer. These prefer- 

 ences, if there be any, may be learned by experimenting. Any 

 pattern that has been used by the birds in a locality will be 

 likely to attract other birds to the same neighborhood. 



Experience thus far seems to show that painted or stained 

 boxes made of boards will outlast those made of logs with the 

 bark on. The latter lose their bark, and some are likely in the 

 course of five or six years to check, split and fall apart, while 

 the board boxes will last ten or twelve years, and much longer 

 if kept painted. Paint or stain is not disliked by birds if well 

 dried. 



It is well known to naturalists that comparatively few birds 

 commonly nest in deep woods, and that ordinarily it is nearly 

 useless to put up nesting boxes in such localities. Yet novices 

 often choose trees in the woods as the most appropriate place 

 for bird houses. Such a mistake is natural, as many birds nest 

 and live much in trees. Perhaps they would choose more nest- 

 ing places in the woods were it not that the forest is the home 

 of some of their worst enemies, such as hawks, crows, jays, 

 squirrels, foxes, weasels, vagrant house cats, wood mice and 

 other creatures that prey on birds. 



Control of Natural Exemies. 



"VMiere the foes of small birds have been kept in check, many 



such birds have been known to nest in the woods. Baron von 



Berlepsch induced many to breed in nesting boxes in the woods 



on his estate in Thuringia, where he controls birds' enemies. 



