Fo;;n <>K WEST Vim. IMA BIRDS 27 



is ihat Grouse are peculiar birds, rather difficelt to keep protractedly 

 in Confinement owing to peculiar habits, and particularly their decided 

 liability to epidemic diseases." In the paragraphs that follow this one, 

 Mi. Job speaks of his success and the success of others in rearing the 

 captive Ruffed Grouse. The Wild Turkeys, various kinds of imported 

 Pheasants, other imported game birds, many kinds of Ducks, Geese and 

 Swans, as well as other kinds of wild birds are now artificially propa- 

 gated with marked success, and the rearing of these birds bids fair to 

 develop into a very profitable industry. This phase of Economic Orni- 

 thology is very important since it is quite possible that birds desirable, 

 for food may be so increased in numbers as to furnish large quantities 

 of healthful and delicious meat to the general dietary. 



Provide Nesting Sites. 



It is said cf Barcn Vcn Berlepsch that when a boy in Germany, he 

 "noticed that the bird-houses then put up for birds were seldom occupied, 

 and he began to inquire the reason and to make careful studies and 

 experiments in methods of attracting birds. These studies led to 

 journeys all over the world. For years he has been carrying on experi- 

 ments on his estates with surprising results. Of about 500 acres, 19 are 

 in a park, 60 are laid out in thickets, and 400 are in woodland. There is 

 also a lake which attracts water-birds. In an area of 12 or 13 acres of 

 park upwards of 500 pairs of birds regularly nest, not including a colony 

 of over 100 nests of house martins on a barn. About 300 nesting-boxes 

 in the park are all occupied. In the woods there are about 2,000 boxes, 

 of which about 90 per cent regularly have tenants." This is a striking 

 illustration of what may be done in attracting the birds by providing 

 them with proper feeding and nesting places. In many places in this 

 country experiments somewhat similar to those of Baron Von Berlepsch 

 are being carried on, though usually on a much smaller scale. In every 

 case, so far as I know, good results have followed, and when nesting- 

 boxes have been placed in proper positions for the birds they have come 

 and occupied them. So interesting and helpful are the chapters in "Wild 

 Bird Guests" by Ernest Harold Baynes, that I quote several paragraphs 

 from his chapter on "The Bird Lover as a Landlord." His suggestions 

 are as follows: "I doubt if it ever occurs to the average person that 

 birds are actually in need of nesting sites. Of course there are thousands 

 of people who believe that it is a good thing to encourage Bluebirds and 

 Tree Swallows and Wrens by puting up nesting-boxes in the gardens and 

 orchards, but most of them do it chiefly because it is interesting and 

 delightful to have the birds about. A few go as far as to plant shrub- 

 bery in the hope that Catbirds and Song Sparrows and a few others will 

 make their homes in it. But they rarely do this because they think the 

 birds need it. As they look out over the country side and see all the 

 trees and bushes, it. seems as if the birds had far more nesting sites than 

 they could possibly use and the fact that so many of these trees and 

 shrubs are not used by the birds, seems to confirm the opinion. The 

 chances are, however, that many of these apparently good nesting-sites 

 are unused for the very simple reason that they are not what the birds 



