edge champfered or countersunk to make a rounded surface upon 

 which the birds alight before entering. Perches are unnecessary, 

 and when provided are used mainly by English Sparrows. By 

 placing the entrance high up under the projecting roof, and cut- 

 ting it on an upward slant, the birds are sheltered from both sun 

 and rain. Before cutting the entrance, stain the outside of the box 

 a neutral tint of olive brown or gray, using an oil stain for this pur- 

 pose. Not only the edges of the entrance, but also the interior of 

 the box, should be fresh and clean, hence the care in applying the 

 stain. Boxes for the Tree Swallow, that are to be mounted on 

 poles and placed in the open, may be painted white, boxes of a 

 dark color becoming over-heated when exposed to the direct rays 

 of the sun. For the purpose of ventilation, bore two one-quarter 

 inch holes in each side of the box, about an inch below the top 

 or roof. Obtain some coarse dry sawdust, or some ground cork 

 from your Italian vender of fruit, in which come packed his Mal- 

 aga and Tokay Grapes. Before fastening the boxes in permanent 

 position, place in each a quantity of this sufficient to cover the 

 bottom to a depth of two inches. Do not overlook this important 

 detail, especially in the boxes designed for members of the Wood- 

 pecker family. The dimensions given for each individual nesting- 

 box in the list of birds, are inside measurements in all instances, 

 unless otherwise specified, so whoever may construct bird houses 

 from these dimensions must allow for thickness of material when 

 cutting up his stock. When many boxes are to be made, it will 

 expedite matters to have the stock run out by a local lumber mill to 

 the proper width for front, back and sides of the individual boxes. 

 It is then a very simple matter to cut off the pieces as required. 

 A carpenter's bench and the following list of tools are all the 

 equipment needed for this work. Two saws, one a cutting-off, 

 the other a splitting saw; a carpenter's square; a hammer; a block 

 plane; a bit-stock, with an extension bit for cutting the different 

 sized entrances, and two or three small drills; a two-foot rule; a 

 stout screw-driver; a sharp pocket-knife, and last but not least, 

 pencil with soft lead. In addition you will need a supply of gal- 

 vanized nails and brass screws, of a size best adapted to the thick- 

 ness of material used. Better begin with a few wood-working 



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