22 WISCONSIN BIRD-STUDY BULLETIN. 



The sparrows may thus be shut out till the other birds arrive anci 

 the houses then be opened at once without taking them down. An 

 air gun or a shotgun used on the sparrows whenever seen on the 

 premises will help very much, but they are watchful, persistent ard 

 intelligent and it is a difficult matter to keep them away. Dr. Hodge, 

 in Nature Study and Life advises poisoning them during the winter 

 when there is no danger of harming other birds. Even this is haid 

 to do, not only because one dislikes to do it, but because the bird^ 

 become suspicious after any have died and will not eat the poisoned 

 food. 



The birdhouse without a landing suggested by Mr. Henry Nehrling, 

 has with us proven to be no bar against the sparrow, he enters it as 

 readily as a wren or a swallow. 



If the bluebirds find a box ready for them, they will sometimes 

 begin building as soon as they arrive. They are much more likely to 

 look over the box, try the door way by turns, sit on the front porch 

 if there is one, or up on the ridge-pole for a while, then go off for a 

 week or more, returning for brief visits at intervals to try the fit of 

 the sitting room once more. 



If all goes well, they begin building in earnest about the middie 

 of April. Sometimes, however, things do not go well. In their ab- 

 sence, the tree swallows return^ take possession of the box and go 

 to building. Then there is trouble indeed. The bluebirds insist that 

 they had the house first; the sAvailows claim it by actual possession. 

 They fight fiercely; one is surprised to see that the mild, timid little 

 swallow can battle so effectively. The result depends upon the pro- 

 gress made upon the nest. If it is but nicely begun the bluebirds are 

 likely to regain possession, if it is well advanced they may as well 

 hunt another home for they cannot dislodge the swallows. 



After their own nest is begun the bluebirds attend strictly to their 

 labors and daddy "twinklewing," as Dr. Hodge calls the male blue- 

 bird, is so watchful that so small a bit of birddom as the wren cannot 

 come within a hundred feet of the box without a chase. 



After the second brood has left the nest both old and young dis- 

 appea,r., but return occasionally for brief inspections of the old quar- 

 ters. About the middle of October they pay a final visit then leave 

 for the winter. 



This inspection of the box so late in the fall makes one wonder if 

 it has any thing) to do with the next spring's location. The fact that 

 they do not so readily take up with a new box as an old one leads 

 one to think that the box may be chosen in the fall. 



In his habits the bluebird is very praiseworthy. Three-fourths of 

 his food are composed of injurious insects. "While he appreciates many 

 wild fruits, he does not harm the cultivated ones. 



