HOMES FOR WILD BIRDS 



THOUGH Aldrovandus declared that storks would 

 only build their nests in free Republics, there is little 

 doubt that modern birds are less particular ; and if 

 anyone wishes to increase the number and variety of 

 birds near a house, the one thing needful is to pro- 

 vide them with suitable nesting-places. Nearly all 

 our garden birds migrate more or less during the 

 winter, and there is not the least doubt that when 

 travelling, they, like ourselves, often say : * What 

 a capital place for a house ! ' If the tempting spot 

 is met with in springtime, they instantly establish 

 themselves there, and will remain, either as permanent 

 tenants, or, if they are migrants, until the autumn 

 sends them once more across the sea. A good 

 example of this occurred during the year 1894. 

 The severe cold forced all the bullfinches to move 

 southwards, and for months the handsome red- 

 breasted cocks and their darker mates thronged 

 the hedgerows in the Vale of the White Horse. 



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