No. 4.] REPORT OF STATE ORNITHOLOGIST. 253 



birds against the jays. Red squirrels which had been abun- 

 dant were shot. Crows were somewhat numerous and de- 

 structive, but by placing cotton strings and other nesting 

 material upon some branches two kingbirds were induced to 

 nest, and they drove away the crows thereby protecting not 

 only their own nest but those of the smaller birds in the 

 vicinity. There were 21 robins' nests in the summer of 1911 

 and 40 nests of other birds, where in 1910 there had been 

 only one robin's nest and very few of other species. The 

 latest robins' eggs were hatched in August, 1913, after the 

 young kingbirds were out of the nest. It was decided then 

 to add scarecrows to the defences of the robins' nest, as it 

 was in a conspicuous position, and to change the scarecrows 

 often, in the hope that this would puzzle and alarm the crows. 

 First a glass jar was hung on a sti^k near the nest and bottles 

 were placed about on the grass. Next, newspapers were 

 spread out on the grass with stones on each corner. Later, 

 white strings were stretched about the tree, and later still 

 white cloths were tied to the twigs to wave in the wind. The 

 young birds were brought off successfully. 



There seems to be some reason to believe that if meat and 

 suet is furnished for blue jays in spring and summer as well 

 as in winter they are not so likely to attack eggs and young of 

 other birds. The experiment is well worth trying. 



Miss Mabel E. Stevens of St. Johnsbury, Vt., writes that 

 she feeds large numbers of birds daily, and is never troubled 

 by insects in her garden " because it is the birds' home.',' 

 Miss Heloise Meyer writes from Lenox that she has not yet 

 sprayed her trees and hopes not to be obliged to, because the 

 suet she has put out during the winter has brought so many 

 woodpeckers that the trees are in very good condition. 



Mr. W. M. Hoxsie writes from Canonchet, R. L, Jan- 

 uary 28, that he has 38 nests of eaves swallows, and that 

 birds have increased in numbers in all his bird houses. There 

 are 15 nests of barn swallows, 13 nests of robins, about 40 

 nests of tree swallows and a long list down to three pairs of 

 house wrens. Very many other correspondents are engaged 

 in similar work, but not all are so successful. 



