Nesting-Boxes for Birds DUS 
the birds are never weary of hunting for insects to satisfy the four to ten hungry, 
wide-open mouths. 
As an instance of the advantages in having insect-hunters close at hand, I may 
mention that whereas some of my neighbours complain of their gooseberry bushes 
beine covered with caterpillars and destitute of leaves, my own trees have not a 
single “palmer” on them. Nor do the birds rob me of an over-proportion of buds; 
in fact the amount they do take is beneficial, and ensures finer, better developed 
fruit. It has been stated by competent observers that the fruit buds picked off by 
the birds contami, im every instance, either the egg or larva of some insect. 
“Do not the birds rob you of fruit?” my friends often ask. Certainly they do 
unless I take the precaution to net it. But I always let them have some share; 
it seems to me to be them due, after the help they have given during the earlier 
part of the year. Some birds—especially blackbirds, thrushes and starlings—appear to 
prefer a fruit diet to almost any other, but many birds eat fruit chiefly for the juice 
which it contains. Thus in very hot summers it 1s more difficult to protect the trees 
and bushes; but if pans of water be placed on the paths it will satisfy the cravings 
of a good many of the depredators, and they will leave the fruit in peace. 
The first year I contented myself with plaim bare boxes, but now I construct 
them more elaborately. The front is hinged, so that the contents may be more 
easily seen, and the boxes are covered with bark so as to match the trees to which 
they are attached. Many of the birds are so tame that they sit quietly on their 
nests and allow me to stare at them without showing any fear or any great surprise. 
In Germany it is quite a common thing to see artificial nesting-boxes hung about 
in the gardens. These are usually made of pottery, in varying sizes; they last a long 
time—imany years—and are always water-tight. I have never seen them in England, 
but no doubt if a demand were created they would soon be obtainable. 
YOUNG WILLOW-WRENS. 
