HANDLING BIRDS ON RANGE 135 



for the small birds to get under the House for the 

 first few days, we have sets of boards which fit around 

 the House to prevent their making the mistake of 

 huddling under the House at night, instead of going 

 up into it. 



A Coming Wrinkle 



Another preparation, on the outside of the House, 

 is the digging of a ditch, in the shape of a crescent, 

 about two feet back of the House, the ditch tapering 

 out to nothing at the two ends, the dirt being thrown 

 to the side away from the Colony House. All houses 

 face due south. The heavy storms of the Summer 

 come rushing up, as a general thing, from the west 

 and northwest, and this ditch, together with the 

 mound of earth back of it, prevents the rush of wind 

 and rain getting under the Colony House, protecting 

 the large number of chicks, that, on occasion of sud- 

 den storm, collect there for shelter. It has been 

 found that this materially reduces the mortality re- 

 sulting from these heavy Summer showers, accom- 

 panied by a strong wind. The ditch also keeps damp- 

 ness entirely away from the ground under the Colony 

 Houses, which is also a very great advantage. 



All being now ready at the Colony Houses, a large 

 wire cage (the one now in use being eight feet long 

 and two and a half feet wide, and eight inches high, 

 with sliding doors at each end, and two soft leather 

 handles to carry it by) is placed at the door opening 



