CHAPTER XXII 



Brao HOUSES, NATATORIUMS AND FEEDING STATIONS 



Few things add so charmingly to the interest of 

 ' the home grounds as the presence of birds, especially 

 those more attractive species that require some spe- 

 cial provision for their comfort in the way of nesting 

 places, abundant food supply and the presence of 

 water for drinking and bathing, and all in a position 

 that insures a moderate degree of safety for their 

 enjoyment. 



The robin, the blue jay, the cat bird and the Eng- 

 lish sparrow we have with us always. The flicker or 

 high-holer (or any one of the friendly, intimate names 

 by which this big fellow of the woodpecker family 

 is known) is common on most lawns. The mourning 

 dove, that most exquisite member of the family, is 

 common wherever trees for the construction of its 

 slovenly-built nest grow — ^usually a pear tree or an 

 evergreen will be its choice — ^while the oriole hangs 

 its pensile nest from the outermost tips of the maple 

 trees. But the little house wren, the bluebird and 

 the martin will not make their homes with us unless 



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