Birds of Buzzard's Roost 





A New Use for an 

 Old Funnel 



amongst the kindling wood, and with a hatchet and saw a 

 rough box, like the accompanying cut, was made and put up 



in one of our cherry trees. 



Soon a pair of bluebirds came, 

 and after that many pairs nested in 

 such boxes. The shingle box answers 

 its purpose fairly well if put up 

 against the side of a building, or on a 

 tall pole or tree trunk, where the cat 

 is not likely to climb. Any small box 

 will do, if it is nearly the right size and 

 shape, but it will be better to have a 

 piece of thin board or shingle nailed 

 flat on the top and projecting a little 

 on all sides to make the roof tight and 

 shed the rain. If the board projects 

 well out over the entrance, hole, it 

 will keep the rain from driving in. In Massachusetts, where 

 my experiments have been made, it is best to have the en- 

 trance to the box face west. Those who cannot conveniently 

 make or purchase boxes may use tomato cans, old tin- 

 ware, such as milk-cans, funnels, pails, coffee-pots or tea- 

 pots. The worn out funnel nailed to a piece 

 of old board serves to show one way in 

 which such contrivances may be put up. 

 The board may be nailed or screwed to a 

 tree or the side of a barn. 



I have seen a barn swallow's nest built 

 in a lard pail which was used to stop a stove- 

 pipe hole in the chimney of a deserted 

 house. If old tinware is used, it is best to 

 have it in trees where, being shaded by the 

 leaves, it will not be heated by the sun's 

 rays. There should be a few small holes 

 in the bottom of each pot or can, so that, 

 should the rain happen to drive in, it may 

 run out. There never should be an un- 

 . covered hole in the top. If a lard pail is used, it must have a 

 cover to keep out the rain, and a hole must be cut in one side 



Hollow I,imb Box 



