ATTRACTING SONG BIRDS 29 
can attract hosts of birds if they have the matter 
brought to their attention. They generally employ 
skilled horticulturists, and they can have no difficulty 
in deciding what to plant. An interesting incident is 
told by Dr. W. Kobelt, of the Botanical Garden at 
Giessen, Germany: “Two ponds were separated by a 
dam, which served as a walk. This dam was cut out 
at both ends, thus making an island, which, during the 
summer time, was inaccessible to cats and bad boys. A 
few trees were already growing on the dam and all 
kinds of shrubs and vines, and a few conifers were 
planted in addition. A few large rocks and a pile of 
brush for wrens were also added and the bird island 
was left to itself and to the birds. It was not found 
necessary to advertise the island in the papers or to put 
up signs with “Nesting Places for Rent.” The very 
first spring the islet was crowded with nests, and from 
the island the birds populated the neighboring gar- 
dens. Every kind of bird that nests at all in the 
vicinity of Giessen and in such places was found on 
this island.” 
This incident shows how quickly the birds will make 
use of suitable nesting places. As most of our larger 
cities have parks with lakes and ponds in them, many 
of them could maintain such islands without any extra 
expense. The main point for consideration is that such 
islands furnish absolute protection against cats. The 
nests cannot be molested, nor can the young birds be 
destroyed while they hop about on the ground or sit on 
low bushes, unable to rise to higher and safer perches. 
