74 METHODS OP" POUI.TRY MANAGEMENT, 



superior to the type formerly used at the Station are ( i ) cer- 

 tainty and precision of operation; (2) greater simpHcity of con- 

 struction, with less tendency to get out of order and work 

 badly; (3) saving of labor in resetting the nest after use. 



The nest is a box-like structure, without front, end, or cover, 

 28 inches long, 13 inches wide, and 16 inches deep, inside meas- 

 ure. A division board with a circular opening 71-2 inches in 

 diameter is placed across the box 12 inches from the rear end 

 and 15 inches from the front end. Instead of having the par- 

 tition between the two parts of the nest made with a circular 

 hole, it is possible to have simply a straight board partition 

 extending up 6 inches from the bottom, as shown in figure 18. 

 The rear section is the nest proper. 



The front portion of the nest has no fixed bottom. Instead 

 there is a movable bottom or treadle which is hinged at the back 

 end (fig 18). To this treadle is hinged the door of the nest. 

 The treadle is made of 1-2-inch pine stuff, with i T-2-inch hard- 

 wood cleats at each end (figs. 19 and 20) to hold the screws 

 which fasten the hinges. It is 12 inches wide and 12 1-4 inches 

 long. Across its upper face just behind the hinges holding the 

 door is nailed a pine strip 4 inches wide, beveled on bnth sides, 

 as shown in figures 19 and 20. The door of the nest is not made 

 solid, but is an open frame (figs. 18 and 20), to the iuiier side 

 of which is fastened (with staples) a rectangular piece of 1-8- 

 incli mesh galvanized screening (dimensions 8 by 9 inches). 

 The sides of the door are strips of 3-4-inch beech stuff 12 

 inches long and i 1-2 inches wide, halved at the ends to join to 

 the top and bottom of the door. The top of the door is a strip 

 of hard wood 13 inches long and i 1-2 inches wide, halved in 

 2 3-4 inches from each end. The projecting ends of this top 

 strip serve as stops for the door when it closes (fig. 18). The 

 bottom of the door is a hard-wood strip 10 1-4 inches by 4 

 inches. The side strips are fitted into the ends of this bottom 

 strip in such way as to project slightly (about 1-32 inch) above 

 the front surface of that strip, for a reason which will h? ap- 

 parent. 



When the nest is open the door extends horizontally in front, 

 as shown in figure 19. In this position the side strips of the 

 door rest on a strip of beech i 1-2 inches wide, beveled on the 

 inner corner, which extends across the front of the nest. This 



