BIRDS IN THE GARDEN 231 



The shelf might be hung right on the side of the house, preferably 

 on the east or west side, not on the south unless the location is partially 

 shaded. It should hang so rigidly that no severe wind will swing it too 

 hard, preferably by two screw eyes. The roof should have enough 

 pitch and overhang so as to shed most of the rain and yet not too much. 



1 have never seen a robin's nest less than 8 ft. above the ground and 

 usually they are much higher; so hang it fairly high, beside or under a 

 second-story window would be a good place; and, if there are vines, 

 so much the better. If it must be in the garden, then put it on a tree 

 10 ft. from the ground or on a pole among the twigs and leaves of some 

 shrub or bush 10 ft. high. The most successful robin shelves are those 

 7 in. square with a rim 1 in. high and half an inch wide around the open 

 sides, making an inside measurement of 6 in. square. The back and 

 one side closed; the whole stained brownish gray or to match the side 

 of the house where it is to hang. The roof is preferably a piece of wood 

 with the bark on and should be 4 in. above the platform at the lowest 

 point and should have an overhang of about 2 in. 



The same thing is right for the cat-bird, but the location should be 

 entirely different. Gat-birds always nest close to the ground (from 



2 ft. to 6 ft.) and in the heart of the densest brush they can find. The 

 center of your biggest Rambler Rose is your best location, or deep in a 

 close growing evergreen: Cedar, Retinispora, clipped Spruce or Hem- 

 lock or some similar growth. I found a big thorny Barberry bush in a 

 clump of other shrubs a good place, when I tied five or six branches 

 together above the little platform to hide it thoroughly. 



One of the most valuable birds we can have about our homes is the 

 phoebe. He belongs to the family of flycatchers, and well justifies the 

 name for he spends the entire day watching from a twig and flying out 

 and snapping up every fly, mosquito or moth that passes, and will pick 

 off every little leaf or fruit worm that his keen eyes may note. 



His note "phoebe, phoebe," is not as musical as the elaborate and 

 varied assortment the cat-bird will regale one with; but it is cheery and 

 alert, and, when one thinks of the vast number of insect pest she is 

 destroying hourly,, it is a most welcome note indeed. 



The phoebe is not as common as we might wish, but if your garden 

 is fairly large and the houses are not too close together, a pair will 

 doubtless look you over this Spring, and if you have the right sort of 

 place ready, may stay with you. 



The favorite location for the phoebe is under a bridge or on a shelf 

 of rock under a ledge, or a beam under an open shed, or similar loca- 

 tion; preferably near water, though not necessarily so. They like 

 plenty of room, and a good cover. The shelf should be 6 in. wide and 

 at least 12 in. long, open at ends and with roof 5 in. above at the front 



