66 



BIOGRAPHY. 



starling. Even the most active and sharpest-clawed rat 

 could hardly climb up the piUar, and if it did, would 

 be stopped by the flat stone. In fact, this piUar and 

 stone are similar in design to the "staddles" on which 

 wheat-stacks ought to be built, if farmers wish to preserve 

 their grain. Cats are also foes to the starling, but the flat 

 stone is too high for most cats to reach by jumping, and if 



GATEWAY — BACK VIEW. 



they tried to do so, the upper surface of the stone is 

 made with a slope, and is so smooth, that the claws could 

 not retain their hold. 



The tower is circular, and is built in regular layers of 

 stones. Each alternate stone is loose, and when pulled 

 out, discloses a chamber behind, to which the bird obtains 

 access by means of a channel cut in the corner of the 

 stone. The birds took possession of the tower at once, 



