66 OUR NATIVE BIRDS 
inches long. These pieces should project at right 
angles to the outside. Connect these cross pieces by 
closely-drawn wires or by wire netting. A few barbed 
wires should be strung along the outer horizontal edge 
of this fence. Cover the outer ends of the cross pieces 
by a coil of barbed wire. A fence of that kind, I 
think, will keep out all wingless unbidden guests. 
The meshes in the wire must, of course, not be too 
large, there must be no holes left near the ground, 
and no posts, walls, or trees from which cats can jump 
into the enclosure. The appearance of such fences 
can be much improved by using them as support for 
annual climbing plants, such as the Mock Apple, or 
Wild Cucumber, Micrampelis lobata, Green. In fact, 
any ornamental climber which grows in your sections, 
and does not form wood enough for cats to climb on, 
will answer the purpose. Instead of wire netting, a 
strong, well-tarred fish net 6 feet or more in height 
may be used with good results. From time to time 
the net must receive a fresh application of tar. 
Nests on trees may be protected in the following 
way: unravel a piece of rope, until you have a string 
of loose fibres. | Wind several coils of this around 
the tree, and then cover the coils of rope with a 
thick coating of tar. Fresh applications of tar must 
be made as they become necessary. The tarred rope 
also keeps caterpillars from crawling up the trees. 
Another means of preventing cats from climbing 
trees is the following; cut a piece of wire netting 
on the bias and fasten it to the trunk like a hat rim. 
