218 
Bird Marking. 
a noticeable increase in the numbers of this species in the neigh- 
bourhood. One can not help thinking that there are not enough 
natural " sites " for them as directly a box is put up in the spring 
a pair of Blue or Marsh Tits begin building in it. In one case on 
looking at a box' in the evening, that had been put up the same 
morning, I found a pair of Blue Tits had already started to build. 
The kind of box used is that designed by Baron Von 
Berlepsch. They are made in several sizes, and are all exact 
copies of tree trunks that have been hollowed out by Woodpeckers 
the interior being flask shaped. These boxes are supplied at a 
very moderate cost, by the Royal Society for the Protection of 
Birds. Another advantage they have, is that the lid bolts down 
and can only be opened with a special kej'. This protects the 
Ijirds and eggs from prying boys. <The birds that have so 
far nested in the boxes have been Nuthatches; Blue, Great, 
Marsh, and Cole Tits. 
It is said that the boxes should (be placed in the trees 
facing in a southerly, direction, but away ifrom the prevailing 
wind. I have tried placing the boxfes ion every side and a 
height varying from three feet to thirty: and have come to 
the conclusion that it does not matter which way the opening' 
into the box looks. 
I have never put a Blue Tit box higher than about 20 
feet up, but they were quickly built in at this height. Also 
one is told that the last year's nest should be removed or the 
birds will not nest in .the box the following year. This I 
find quite unnecessary. After all in the normal state, the old 
nest has to remain where it is. It is best to put the boxes 
up in the autumn as the birds iget used to them, and also, I 
think, roost in them. 
Another bird that much appreciates an artificial nesting 
site is the Tree Creeper. This can be (made quite easily with 
a few pieces of bark. A large flat |or slightly curved piece 
is nailed up about five or six tfeet from the gi'ound against the 
trunk of a fair sized tree, oak or elm for preference. Then 
a small piece of bark is placed beneath the lower end of the 
large piece; this prevents the nest from falling out. Finally 
another strip of bark is nailed over the upper end to act as 
a roof to prevent rain from getting in the nest. 
An opening should be left or made to allow the birds 
