26o



Mr. E. G. B. Meado-Waedo,



position will do, provided it is not too high up, (about 5ft. is the

best height) and not fully exposed to the South-West wind,

shelter from any high wind is most desirable. I find the

positions near roads or walks are more attractive than very

secluded sites, and that Wrynecks prefer fairly open situations,

and also rather deep boxes, ten inches to one foot from the hole

to the bottom of the box, which should have a little dry rotten

■wood in it; but if they take to a box which has already been

appropriated by a Tit, they will speedily destroy the nest and

clean out the box to their liking. • Nuthatches will take to

almost any box—even those with large holes which are suitable

for Starlings—as they close the hole with mud to fit it to them¬

selves. When they choose a box with a small hole they use

mud just the same, fastening down the lid and plastering the

inside round the hole and making the hole to exactly fit their

bodies.


Some years the Great Tit breeds in the boxes almost to the

exclusion of all other species, fully 80 per cent, of Tit boxes

being taken by them. In other years the Blue Tit takes its place.

Some Coal Tits breed in boxes every year, but the Marsh Tit

rarely does so. I don’t think I have had as many as twenty

Marsh Tits nest in boxes in as many years : they nest in the

ground or in rotten stumps. Boxes made with very wide

openings, and shallow, are often taken to by Wagtails, Robins,

and Flycatchers.


All boxes should be fixed firvily to the trunk of the tree or

a wall with two nails, so that they do not twist or vibrate in any

way. The occupants do not mind being looked at in the least,

and you can open the lid and look at the sitting bird without the

fear of it forsaking. While they are laying, all the Tits cover their

eggs with nesting material, but as soon as incubation commences

leave them exposed when they leave the nest. The Nuthatch

however covers her eggs on all occasions. I often find my small

boxes inhabited by mice, dormice, and even bats ! Boxes should

have the old nests taken out of them as soon as the young have

flown, and, when possible, I often look at them in the early

spring, to clear out anything that may have accumulated

during the winter. When made of oak these boxes will last for



