SIDE SHOWS 143 



community should look to its gardener to take the lead in 

 establishing intelligent and protective measures. 



Time was, and not so long ago, when many species of 

 birds gladly accepted the hospitality of a bird house. This 

 they would still continue to do if it were not for the oppo- 

 sition of the tyrant sparrow. For, as we know to our sorrow, 

 just in proportion as the English sparrow has fought his way 

 into a locality, the native birds have been driven .farther and 

 farther back. At present comparatively few will breed in 

 boxes unless by some means this fellow has been banished. 

 So scare him away, if possible, till the other birds begin to 

 build. Fortunately, there still remain as many as twelve spe- 

 cies of birds which may be counted upon to come regularly 

 to spots where their peace can be assured. 



Among these are to be found four kinds of swallows : the 

 chimney swift, the house wren, the bluebird, and the phoebe. 

 Neither the robin nor the nighthawk can as a rule be tempted 

 to nest in boxes, but both will occasionally breed on the tops 

 of buildings. As for those handsome members of the wood- 

 pecker family, the flickers, strange to say not very many 

 attempts have been made to entice them into neighborhoods ; 

 and yet they are such famous insect hunters that it would 

 seem well worth trying. This ought not to be difficult either, 

 if their tastes can be judged by the amusing pranks they 

 sometimes play. Tales are told of how, as cold weather ap- 

 proaches, they cut little porthole-like doorways for them- 

 selves, and serenely enter some unoccupied summer cottage, 

 where they settle snugly for the winter, to enjoy the comforts 

 of home. Often they are not discovered till spring. It is 

 therefore proposed to offer them at least the alternative of 

 an all-the-year-round cottage of their own. 



The bluebird is sure to become a family friend, provided 

 we have an orchard or some mowing land near by. This 



