386 



ATTRACTING BIRDS 



Damage by Dogs. — Many birds which nest upon the ground or 

 near the ground, such as quails, meadow larks, field sparrows and 

 others have found their nests of eggs or young destroyed by dogs. 

 A single bird dog with the strong sense of smell can find all the 

 nests on a farm though there be scores of them, and is sometimes 

 known to destroy them all in an hour's time. Quails, for example, 

 are the best enemies of potato beetles. A flock of quails will 

 protect the patch by eating the pests early in the season before 



Fig. 284. 



Fig. 283, 



Fio. 283. — A cocoanut shell hung in a wire mesh may serve either as a nest or as a dining 



room. (U.S.D.A.) 

 Fig. 284. — A feed shelf under a window is handy for the feeder and will bring the birds under 

 the observation of children. (U.S.D.A.) 



they multiply. The protection of such a flock to the particular 

 farm is of immense value. The dog which destroys the nests allows 

 the insects to continue their work, and the farmer must fight the 

 insect enemies as best he can while he is petting and feeding his 

 dog. It has been said that it costs as much to feed a dog as it does 

 to feed a pig. The same table waste or other feed which one gives 

 the dogs could be used for pigs, and thus increase the supply of 

 human food. 



