Nesting Boxes 



319 



young are hatched. It can then be kept open as much as 

 seems desirable, to observe the habits of the birds through 

 the glass ; but it must be arranged so that the sun will not 

 shine in it, as that might be fatal to the young birds. The box 

 shown in the cut is mounted on a short board projecting from 

 my window sill. The door is hinged at the bottom by a piece 

 of leather, and opens toward the window. It has been occu- 

 pied for three seasons by chickadees, and any one sitting at 



OBSERVATION BOX OPEN 



OBiERVATION BOX CLOSED 



the open window can watch the young birds as they are fed, 

 note their growth and development, the character and amount 

 of their food, the nest-cleaning and all their household affairs. 

 The old birds were first attracted to the windows by feeding 

 them there. Then they found the box a good place for shel- 

 ter, and finally nested in it. They are good neighbors, attend- 

 ing to their own business and, as unpaid laborers in our fruit 

 trees and woodland, their work of clearing insects from the 

 premises is of the utmost value. 



