THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 123 
In England and America bird-lovers encourage birds by 
putting up nesting boxes, drinking vessels, and supplying 
food. Our Australian birds do not seem to take to nestin: 
boxes. Certainly they will be occupied, but it will be by the 
Sparrow and starling. But swallows often build on school 
verandahs, or even in the school-room itself. Many teachers 
object to this, as it dirties the floor beneath; but I think, 
when a bird places so much confidence in us as to build in 
such a situation, that we might put up with the slight incon- 
venience. A sheet of paper put beneath the nest and re- 
moved daily will keep the floor clean. Drinking troughs on 
a post are usually a great success. Even in the city many 
birds will visit these. A broad shallow dish of tin or earthen- 
ware is best—a large seed or flower-pot pan is excellent—as 
the birds not only drink, but bathe, giving an opportunity 
for the observation of their different modes of bathing. Many 
birds visit the playground for food after lunch time. But if 
a post is put up and a flat board nailed on top of it, crumbs, 
little scraps of meat, and a bit of suét may be put there. 
The suet should be tied or tacked to the board so that it may 
not be dragged off. 
A BIRD SANCTUARY. 
(An extract from an article by A. J. North, C.M.B.0.U.) 
“For years past, at Roseville, I have encouraged the 
birds to breed around my house, and when unmolested, it is 
astonishing how soon they learn that the garden is their 
sanctuary. Honeyeaters of several species come regularly to 
drink or bathe in the summer time ,to a large earthenware 
bowl of water placed there for their use. Young magpie 
larks, scarcely trouble to move out of one’s way. Yellow- 
breasted robins breed in the trees just outside the fence, and 
one season, in low, bushes, the coach-whip bird. The grey 
shrike thrush is very tame, and utters its melodious notes on 
the verandah and ventures into the house; and, last year, a 
pair of black and white fantails (or more popularly known 
“willy wagtail’’) forsook their usual nesting-place in a tree 
in an adjoining paddock, and built their nest and reared 
their young, on the beam of a wooden screen sheltering one — 
of our windows. While in the field, too, I have caught young 
birds, taken them to the Museum on the following day, 
photographed them, described them, and walked many a mile 
afterwards to return them to their parents.’”’ 
