WHAT I HAVE DONE WITH BIRDS 



ter. After that one or two deserted the circle for the box at each 

 round until the last bird disappeared. 



I am glad to own the pictures I have of them. The coming 

 summer, however, a box must be arranged with a hinged roof so 

 the young ones and eggs can be reproduced. One box might be 

 placed on the west side of the mill so that a focus could be had on 

 it from the barn roof. 



So far I have not been able to do just what is possible with 

 Martins. I never shall unless some way is invented to extermi- 

 nate English Sparrows. But I have succeeded in enticing them 

 to build on our premises, and afforded them sufficient protection 

 to bring out large broods. With all that flock to clean pests from 

 our fruit trees and sift insect plagues from the air with their 

 queer little sieve-like throats, we were almost free from mos- 

 quitoes, and what a fruit crop we had! Summer life at the cabin 

 would riot be complete without them. I like to hear their morn- 

 ing chatter and watch their evening flight, and the twitter with 

 which they perform the business of living is all-day company 

 for me. 



( He spent every minute, when not bathing or food-hunting,, doing 

 sentinel duty on the telephone wire" 



108 



