The boxes should be fastened in a vertical position when pos- 

 sible, and if at an angle, they should tip slightly forward rather 

 than backwards. Late in the month of February or early in March 

 is the best time to put up bird houses. There is no particular 

 advantage to be gained by putting them up late in the autumn, 

 and squirrels and wood mice soon fit them up for winter quarters. 



The author suggests that a plan of one's country estate be 

 drawn, upon which the location of each nesting-box may be marked 

 and a number assigned to it. Each nesting-box will have a 

 number corresponding to the one upon the plan. The boxes may 

 have the numbers marked upon the under side of each, or better 

 have them placed at the height of one's eyes at the base of the 

 tree or pole upon which the box is fastened. Much interesting 

 and valuable data may be collected concerning the nesting-habits 

 of the birds occupying the boxes, length of time from the taking 

 possession of the box until the young leave the nest; number of 

 broods raised by each species during the season; list of species 

 using the nesting- boxes; list of the various species of insects 

 brought to the young by the parents. 



After the departure of the birds, the nesting-boxes should be 

 carefully cleaned, the nests removed, and a search made for the 

 egg clusters of the gypsy moth frequently deposited in bird houses. 

 Sprinkle in each box a small quantity of powdered sulphur to free 

 them of parasites. 



When possible the nesting-boxes should be taken down and 

 stored for the winter, replacing them again late in the month of 

 February or during the first week in March, as before mentioned. 



Cats and squirrels are enemies of birds, and if we are to have 

 birds about our homes in numbers, we must eliminate these pests. 

 Cats climb trees without the slightest difficulty, and being noc- 

 turnal in habit, hunt at hours when they are concealed from our 

 watchfulness, climb to the nesting-boxes, pull out the young birds 

 or their parents and devour them. 



Both species of squirrels, the red and the gray, are destroyers 

 of birds, their eggs, and young. The red squirrel is the more vil- 

 lianous of the two, and should be destroyed on sight wherever 

 found. Gray squirrels are found in far too great numbers in our 



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