Recently publ'i shed Ornithological Works. 387 



lias devoted an area oF about 500 acres of park-land^ tliickets, 

 and forest to this purpose. 



liis methods consist, first of all, in the provision of nestiiig-- 

 boxes for those birds, such as Woodpeckers, Tits, Stock- 

 Doves, Kestrels, and Owls, which naturally breed in holes of 

 trees. Baron von Berlepsch has, after many failures, planned 

 what he believes to be a perfect imitation of a natural 

 Woodpecker's nest-hole, and he finds that at least 90 per 

 cent, of the boxes placed in his woods at Seebach are occupied 

 the first year. 



Another method adopted by the Baron is the formation of 

 special plantations^ of thicket for birds which breed in the 

 open. Very precise directions are given for planting such 

 thickets. The most satisfactory shrub was found to be 

 WHiite-thorn {Crataffus oxyacantha) while the Hornbeam 

 (Carpinus betulus) was much utilized, with a few Mountain 

 Ashes, lied Cedars, and Firs, interspersed. By careful 

 j)runing and cutting out completely impenetrable thickets 

 can be formed in about nine years, and so satisfactory is the 

 result that in one particular instance 85 nests were found in 

 one plantation measuring only 230 yards long and 8 yards 

 wide. 



Another chapter of the book contains an account of the 

 methods of feeding birds in winter by food-trees and food- 

 bells, and other ingenious contrivances, for the construction 

 of which full directions are given. 



There can be no doubt that in Germany, owing to the rigid 

 method of forestry, by which all dead and decaying trees 

 and branches are removed, and because of the comparative 

 absence of hedges and coverts, the smaller birds are not 

 nearly so abundant as they are in England, and that 

 Baron von Berlepseh's instructions arc very valuable for the 

 encouragement of birds which are so necessary for successful 

 agriculture. It is to be hoped, therefore, that his example 

 may be followed in other parts of Germany and in other 

 countries, and that the inestimable value of insectivorous 

 birds in all agricultural and horticultural operations may be 

 more generallv recognised. 



