252 PROPAGATION OF WILD BIRDS 



scattered. This should hang about one foot below the wire, 

 and be made about 2 feet square, with a slight rim to keep 

 the grain from blowing off, and should be located about the 

 middle of the enclosure. Over the centre of this tray a 

 few strands of the wire should be cut, and the ends bent 

 down, leaving a hole just big enough to admit the sparrow. 

 Especially in severe winter weather, though also at other 

 times, the sparrows alight on the wire over the grain, enter 

 the hole, but are unable to find their way out. Mr. Barnes 

 has a smaller compartment at one end into which he drives 

 the birds, to catch them more readily, though in a smaller 

 trap this is unnecessary. Occasionally juncos, tree spar- 

 rows, and other native birds get in, but these are liberated 

 without harm. The arrangement is so like an ordinary 

 poultry-yard that even the shrewd sparrows do not suspect 

 harm. Mr. Barnes has already caught several thou- 

 sand of them. It is well to leave some sparrows in it 

 always for decoys, and water should be provided for them. 

 In case sparrows do not go in at first, it is well to catch a few 

 otherwise and put them in. English sparrows are said to 

 make good eating, and in this way they might be of use. 



Cats. It is almost hopeless to have many birds if a place 

 is overrun with cats. Notice how easily they scramble up 

 the trunk of a tree when they really set out to. They can 

 get almost any nest that is not out on slender branches. 

 When young birds are learning to fly they are most likely 

 to be captured. The average garden is a stalking-ground 

 for cats. The English sparrow is able to increase largely 

 through nesting in places inaccessible to cats, whereas vari- 

 ous other species are not so fortunate. Robins and chipping 

 sparrows are great sufferers, and many a nest in trellis or 

 arbour, or in the orchard, is despoiled. In many places it 

 is impracticable to shoot cats, besides being very unpleasant. 



