bark will not usually peel much earlier than June 20, and then 

 only for a short time. When the tree had been cut down, the 

 trunk was sawed into sections from 10 to 18 inches long, ac- 

 cording to the size of the boxes desired. Only straight sections, 

 free from knots or branches, were used. A limb of the right 

 size, however, may, when cut off, leave a hole in 

 the bark that can be utilized as an entrance for 

 the birds. 



These domiciles may be made as follows: an 

 incision is made on the side intended for the back 

 of the box, through both outer and inner bark, 

 from the top to the bottom of each section; 

 then, on the opposite side, some two or three 

 inches from the top, there is bored through the 

 bark, with an auger or extension bit, a hole of Fig. 3.— chestnut 

 the size desired for the entrance. If such tools 

 are not at hand, the aperture may be cut with a gouge, a 

 chisel, or even a knife. Next insert a wedge-shaped stick into 

 the incision at the back and under the inner bark, to start it 

 off, and with this implement peel it very carefully. In peeling 

 birch one should be careful not to separate the inner and 

 outer layers of the bark. Caution should be used when work- 

 ing about knots or rough places. The bark will 

 make the sides of the box, and two sections, each 

 an inch thick, sawed from the ends of the barked 

 log, will make the top and bottom. Now the bark 

 is tacked to the bottom and top. The bark will 

 draw apart somewhat at the back in drying, but 

 this aperture may be covered, when the box is put 

 up, by nailing or screwing a short stick or pole over 

 the opening on the back, which stick in turn may 

 Fig. 4.— Birch- be nailed or screwed to the supporting tree, build- 

 ing or pole. To make the roof watertight, a piece of 

 cotton cloth, ^uck or denim may be put on, tacked down over 

 the edge and painted, or a piece of roofing paper may be used. 

 A more permanent covering may be made by using a piece of 

 tin or zinc, as shown in the figure of the chestnut bark box 

 (Fig. 3). To make the expected nest accessible to examination, 

 the top of the bark sides might be fastened to a hoop, and the 



