352 GARDEN GUIDE 



I have never seen a robin's nest less 

 than 8 feet above the ground and usually 

 they are much higher; so hang it fairly 

 high, beside or under a second-story 

 window -would be a good place; and, if 

 there are vines, so much the better. If 

 it must be in the garden, then put it on 

 a tree 10 feet from the ground or on a 

 pole among the twigs and leaves of some 

 shrub or bush 10 feet high. The most 

 successful robin shelves are those 7 

 inches square with a rim 1 inch high and Yi inch wide around the open 

 sides, making an inside measurement of 6 inches square. The back 

 and one side closed; the whole stained brownish gray or to match the 

 side of the house where it is to hang. The roof is preferably a piece of 

 wood with the bark on and should be 4 inches above the platform at 

 the lowest point and should have an overhang of about 2 inches. 



The same thing is right for the cat-bird, but the location should be 

 entirely different. Cat-birds always nest close to the ground (from 1 

 feet to 6 feet) and in the heart of the densest brush they can find. The 

 center of your biggest Rambler Rose is your best location, or deep in a 

 close growing evergreen: Cedar, Retinispora, clipped Spruce or Hem- 

 lock or some similar growth. I found a big thorny Barberry bush in a 

 clump of other shrubs a good place, when I tied five or six branches 

 together above the Kttle platform to hide it thoroughly. 



One of the most valuable birds we can have about our homes is the 

 ■ phoebe. He belongs to the family of flycatchers, and well justifies the 

 name for he spends the entire day watching from a twig and flying out 

 and snapping up every fly, mosquito or moth that passes, and will pick 

 off every Uttle leaf or fruit worm that his keen eyes may note. 



His note "phoebe, phoebe," is not as musical as the elaborate and 

 varied assortment the cat-bird will regale one with; but it is cheery and 

 alert, and, when one thinks of the vast number of insect pests, he is 

 destroying hourly, it is a mos^ welcome note indeed. 



The phoebe is not as common as we might wish, but if your garden 

 is fairly large and the houses are not too close together, a pair will 

 doubtless look you over this Spring, and if you have the right sort of 

 place ready, may stay with you. 



The favorite location for the phoebe is under a bridge or on a shelf 

 of rock under a ledge, or a beam under an open shed, or similar loca- 

 tion; preferably near water, though not necessarily so. They like 

 plenty of room, and a good cover. The shelf should be 6 inches wide 

 and at least 12 inches long, open at ends and with roof 5 in. above 



The Junco, or Snowbird 



"Leaden skies above; snow below" 

 Courtesy U. S. Farmers' Bulletin, 

 No. 506 



