NESTING BOXES 373 



' If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way, 

 in any tree or on the ground, whether they be young 

 ones or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young or 

 upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the 

 young." 



We must guard the nests from evilly disposed men 

 and from roving predatory animals as much as lies in 

 our power. But the real problem is this : The land- 

 owner uproots bushes, fells old trees, prevents the nest 

 building of our most useful birds and cannot give back 

 to them what they have lost. He prevents the 

 possibility of their collecting again and increasing, and 

 consequently from performing their useful duties, which 

 are continually increasing. Where, however, bushes 

 and trees have been rooted up, new ones may be planted, 

 and the birds encouraged to return, although we cannot 

 replace them at once for hundreds of years may pass 

 before the trees grow tall enough, and we cannot wait 

 so long. Then we try to do by artificial means what 

 we cannot do by nature ; and we must be careful to study 

 nature in our operations or we shall not succeed. 



The Woodpecker, which lives in hollow trees, shows 

 us how to build an artificial nest. 



Table V., Fig. i, gives a section of the nesting-hole 

 of a Woodpecker built by himself. 



Fig. 2 is a perfectly designed nest for Titmice. 



Fig. 3 shows the same nesting-box complete, provided 

 with entrance hole and cover. 



Fig. 4 shows an open nest-box for Flycatchers and a 

 black Redstart. 



The most important is that shown in 2 and 3 as it is 

 specially arranged to suit Titmice. 



