THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS. 393 



or painted tin is best, for birds seem suspicious of bright 

 surfaces. There should be a few nail holes in the lower side, 

 to allow the escape of any water that may drive in. 



A large funnel may be nailed to a piece of board, and the 

 board fastened on the side of the barn ; or the funnel itself 

 may be fastened to the building. This may be used by a 

 Wren or a Chickadee. (See Plate XL VII, Fig.. 5 . ) An old 

 coffee pot may be set upon a post, or fastened to a bracket 

 which may be set against the side of a building. Milk cans, 

 lard pails, flower pots, teakettles, and many other utensils 

 may be utilized, and fastened up in various ways to trees or 

 buildings ; and, although they may not be ornate, the birds 

 will find them useful. There should be no projection or limb 

 immediately beneath a nesting box, to give cat or Crow a 

 foothold from which to reach into the nest ; but it is always 

 better to have a small limb or stick, as a perch, within a few 

 feet, to serve as a rest for the parent birds. Small wooden 

 boxes, such as may be found at the stores, if not over six by 

 eight by fifteen inches, may be used. Those who have time 

 and lumber to spare may make bird houses of any shape to 

 suit their tastes ; but a few suggestions as to construction 

 and situation will not be out of place. 



If one wishes to accommodate only a certain species of 

 bird, the entrance to the nesting box should be made so small 

 that no larger bird can enter. Boxes made on this principle 

 for small birds will protect the eggs and young from Crows 

 and Jays. A round hole one and one-fourth inches in di- 

 ameter will do for either "Wrens or Chickadees ; but a Wren 

 can use a smaller opening, just the size of a silver twenty-five- 

 cent piece, and such a doorway is small enough to keep out 

 " English " Sparrows. The Chickadee can use a one and one- 

 eighth inch hole, but some will not be content with one less 

 than one and one-fourth inches in diameter. Bluebirds and 

 Tree Swallows can pass through a one and one-half inch aper- 

 ture. This is usually large enough, and will keep out Jays. 

 The two-inch hole usually recommended is too large, for it 

 will admit both Martins and squirrels. These entrances may 

 be round, square, or oblong. If made oblong, the measure- 

 ments given should be used horizontally, the vertical diame- 



