52 NESTING BOXES, ETC. 



are not to be encouraged, as they tease Owls in- 

 cessantly if they once find them out, and turn them 

 out of their nesting boxes. 



Redstarts may be attracted to build in holes in 

 rubble or brick walls, not too high up, or a favourite 

 place for these birds to nest in is a hole three or 

 four feet from the ground in a decaying tree. In 

 the trunk of a dead Birch tree I hollowed out a hole 

 with chisel and mallet, and it was taken possession of 

 by a pair of Redstarts within a few days, and they 

 successfully reared their brood (see Plate v.). 



The same thing occurred in the decaying trunk 

 of an Apple tree in my garden, in which there is 

 a large hole, but, by covering the entrance partially 

 with a piece of rough board, leaving the entrance 

 just large enough for the birds, Redstarts or Tits 

 have now for many years annually nested there. 



Plate vi. is taken fi'om a photograph of this 

 nesting place. 



Starlings always appear to be able to find nest- 

 ing accommodation in some nook or cranny about 

 our houses or buildings, frequently stopping-up 

 spouts, and bringing down on themselves, I fear, 

 curses instead of blessings ; but for all that they 

 are most useful insect-destroying birds, as I think 

 no one can deny. 



