THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS. 395 
Europe or west of the Rocky Mountains, but it is unsafe 
here, where our severest rainstorms come from the north- 
east. The entrance should face the south or west, wherever 
possible. It is also best to have boxes, especially tin ones, 
so situated that they will be shaded by trees or buildings 
Fig. 168.— Chickadees feeding their young in an observation box at the author’s 
window. (From Reed’s American 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 birds in unshaded boxes some- 
times die from excessive heat. 
Those who wish to study 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 
