periences lead us to revise our opinions regarding the exact size 

 of the tenement each bird requires and how high or low it 

 should be situated. I am not so positive as I once was regard- 

 ing what is best for certain species or what kind of a box or 

 situation will please each one best. It seems that the birds 

 have some individuality, or that they need nesting places so 

 badly that they will take almost anything if it is so situated that 

 it offers peace and safety. Nevertheless, there are a few rules 

 that should be followed in making and erecting bird houses to 

 secure the best results. 



Important Specific Directions. 



1. Let the roof be made tight and overhang the entrance far 

 enough to carry rain clear and keep the sun from shining in on 

 the young. 



2. Do not make the bottom of the box too tight. If any rain 

 drives in, it should run out. 



3. If the box tips forward a little on the side of the entrance 

 hole when set in place it will shed rain well. It should never 

 lean backward. 



4. Provide a way of opening the box quickly, even if you 

 intend to burn it and replace it after the first season, as is done 

 sometimes with gourds and shingle or bark boxes. It will be 

 necessary from time to time to open the box for cleaning or for 

 evicting gypsy moths and other pests or vermin. 



5. Make the entrance hole and the box itself just large 

 enough for the bird you want — no larger. This will tend to 

 keep out larger birds, as well as the birds' enemies, will give the 

 bird a better chance to defend its home, and will save material. 



6. Entrances to nesting boxes should be protected against en- 

 largement by squirrels or woodpeckers by tacking on the outside 

 a ring of sheet zinc, cut to fit around each hole. (See Plate I, 

 Fig. 2.) 



7. Make nesting boxes of weathered wood, or paint or stain 

 them with colored linseed oil of a neutral tint resembling dead 

 wood or bark, or put them up in the fall that they may become 

 weather-stained before spring. Apparently birds are less sus- 

 picious of such boxes than of those made of new, bright lumber, 

 but they have been known to use the newest of the new. 



