THE PBOTECTION OF BIRDS. 



395 



Europe or west of the Kocky Mountains, l)ut it is unsafe 

 here, where our severest rainstorms eonie from the north- 

 east. The entrance should face the south or west, wherever 

 possible. It is also best to have l:ioxes, espeeiallj^ tin ones, 

 so situated that they will be shaded l^y trees or buildings 



Fig. 168. — CMckarlees feertinsr their yoam? in nn observation box at tlie author's 

 window. (From Reed's Aiiierican Ornithology.) 



during the hotter part of the day. By these precautions 

 we may guard against the danger of having the young birds 

 wet and chilled by cold storms or overheated by the sun. 

 In very hot weather young l)irds in unshaded boxes some- 

 times die from excessive heat. 



Those who wish to studv the domestic affairs of birds may 

 construct an observation box with a door on one side, back 

 of which a pane of glass is set. Such a bird house may be 

 set up on a window sill, so that by opening the door the feed- 

 ing and care of the young birds may be watched through the 



