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Bird - Lore 



spruce {Picea excelsa), which is there planted in three rows one yard apart, 

 the middle rowbeing removed after about six years. This removal leaves a 



small opening, which is soon 

 arched over, and forms a 

 covered passageway for birds, 

 and an excellent winter feed- 

 ing-place. The remaining trees 

 should be topped regularly, to 

 maintain this densely covered 

 archway. Mountain ash trees 

 are planted along the row with 

 the spruces, to provide food 

 with their berries. The excep- 

 tional shelterwood, uncon- 

 nected with others, stands in 

 the midst of cultivated fields. 

 This is largely an experiment, 

 and is as yet too young to show 

 results. Most of the others are 

 either under partial or entire 

 shade, or else along the edges 

 between woods and fields, such 

 as that shown in the picture. 

 It should be noted that all 

 nests are thrown down each 

 autumn from the whorls, as 

 well as from the boxes. 



The matters of feeding and 

 of control of enemies were given 

 less attention by the writer 

 than they deserved, chiefly be- 

 cause of lack of time. The 

 winter feeding arrangements 

 at Seebach have already been 

 briefly referred to, and are fully 

 set forth in the book describ- 

 ing Baron von Berlepsch's 

 methods. Control of natural 

 enemies is effected largely by 

 trapping, and to some extent by shooting. An ingenious trap baited with live 

 English Sparrows is used successfully for Sparrow Hawks, — said to be similar 

 in size and habits to our Sharp-shinned Hawks, — which are considered the 

 only distinctly harmful birds of this family. The larger Hawks are not 



THREE NESTING-BOXES IN POSITION ON 

 THE EDGE OF A SPRUCE STAND IN THE 

 WOODS OF BARON VON BERLEPSCH. 

 These are for experiments with the smaller Tits, as described 

 herein. 



