BIRDS OF PEASEMARSH 



disappearing and stiff wire ones are taking their 

 places. True these have posts, but they are too 

 new to have holes and sometimes they are 

 painted, and newness and paint are foreign to 

 the feathered tribe. 



All this has forced the Bluebirds nearer the 

 orchard and house, where they have to be satis- 

 fied with any sort of a home they can find. Sel- 

 dom can they get one where they are safe from 

 cats, and always they are in danger from red 

 squirrels. Then, if the nest happens to be near 

 the buildings, they will have the European 

 Sparrows to torment them. 



Nothing at Peasemarsh has given more 

 pleasure or profit than the Bluebird houses. 

 Nothing adds more to the beauty of the 

 grounds than the bits of sky blue flitting here 

 and there or resting on the gate posts. No birds 

 are of more benefit to agriculture. Those that 

 have nested here for several summers lose much 

 of their shyness and let us know all the secrets 

 of their housekeeping. It was some time be- 

 fore they became accustomed to the camera, 

 however, and it was not until they had babies 

 to feed and had to get back and forth from their 

 house in spite of that new, silent terror beside 



[54] 



