Photo by Ernest Harold Baynes 



THE BEST KIND OF A BIRD ON A HAT 



left open at the top, and so constructed 

 as to admit of their ready occupancy.* 



The Enemies of" the birds 



Of bird enemies, cats are undoubtedly 

 the worst, and maudlin sentiment should 

 not be wasted upon them, for they are 

 incorrigible. The plain, ordinary alley 

 cat should be eliminated when possible, 

 and they make fine fertilizers when 

 planted about the roots of one's favorite 

 grape-vine. Cat - possessing neighbors 



* One of the most absorbing and interesting 

 Looks of the present day, replete with infor- 

 mation on the above subject, called "Useful 

 Birds and Their Protection," by Edward Howe 

 Forbush, State Ornithologist of Massachusetts, 

 has been published by the Massachusetts Board 

 of Agriculture and may be obtained from them 

 for the sum of $1.00. 



should be warned that if their cats are 

 caught trespassing they will be turned 

 into fertilizer. 



Red squirrels are next on the list and 

 should be shot on sight, but I have never 

 found the depredations of the gray squir- 

 rel to warrant similar treatment. Bird- 

 chasing dogs are a nuisance and should 

 be restrained during the breeding season. 



Skunks and foxes should both be dis- 

 couraged, and the wily raccoon and elu- 

 sive weasel also, if perchance they are 

 found to lurk about. 



Of the hawks, the cooper and sharp- 

 shinned hawks should both be shot at 

 sight, while of the owls, the great horned 

 is incapable of reform. The little screech- 

 owl is almost always beneficial on ac- 

 count of the numbers of mice it often de- 



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