No. 4.] REPORT OF STATE ORNITHOLOGIST. 91 



used in my experiments is opened by drawing two nails pushed 



into holes much too large for them in the cover (Fig. 3), but 



sometimes the warping of the cover or the 



swelling of the wood causes these nails to bind, 



and in such cases a claw hammer is required 



to open the boxes. The one shown on Plate 



IV. has a latch concealed inside, and may 



be opened and closed by two movements of 



the hand. Fig. 4 shows the details. Some 



, . • 1 .• Fig. 4.— Plan for quick 



such arrangement is essential as a time saver. opening. 



To ATTRACT NESTING BaRN SwALLOWS. 



Following my recommendation regarding supports for swal- 

 lows' nests, Dr. Warren has driven protruding nails in the 

 crosspieces under a raised board walk over 1,100 feet long, 

 leading to the landings on Wallops Island, and has nailed 

 small blocks on some of the posts and crossbeams. Barn swal- 

 lows have built nests on these slight supports under the board 

 walk. In some cases these nests are not more than 14 inches 

 above the water at high tide, but the birds are safe, as there 

 are no cats now to molest them. As the swallows have to be 

 kept from nesting in the boathouses on account of the soiling 

 of the boats. Dr. Warren has made some headway in inducing 

 them to nest outside the buildings, under the eaves, by placing 

 similar supports there. 



Corrections. 



I have published the statement that chickadees will not use 

 a nesting box with an entrance less than 1| inches in diameter. 

 This assertion was based on the experience of fifteen years. 

 This year, on the estate of A. R. Shattuck in Lenox, I 

 saw a chickadee feeding young in a box having a round en- 

 trance hole an inch in diameter. Apparently the male bird 

 was unable to enter the box, and he fed the young by thrust- 

 ing in his head. I have seen a chickadee frequently try to 

 enlarge an entrance 1| inches in diameter, although the bird 

 sometimes uses this size, and have learned by experience that 

 they seem to prefer one about 1| inches wide. 



