Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 90.djvu/774

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��Popular Science Monthly

��AIR COOLED CHAMBEP SURROUNDING NESTING CHAMBER

��fifteen feet high, and as much as fifty feet away from a tree or building. To comply with every whim, the house should also be located near some telegraph wires on which the birds can perch and gossip.

To outwit the martins' great enemy, the Eng- lish sparrow, build the house with two gable rooms which connect in- side in such a way that it is noticeable from the outside. Martins have a custom of sending a scout ahead. He always enters the topmost room first. If spar- rows see him, they will make things so un- pleasant for him that he will not care to return, and the whole martin tribe will travel elsewhere. But if the scout is able to escape through the opposite opening, he will hasten to call together all his followers, and, making a veritable "war drive," they will rout out the sparrows and take possession.

Fruit growers and

��WALLOP NESTING CHAMBER PREPARED FOR ABSORBING MOISTURE FROM AIR COOLEO CHAMBER

����OPENING DOOR TO NESTING CHAMBER FOR CLEANSING

��poultry men can do no better than to attract martins. They are relentless in their pursuit of hawks, and tireless in cleaning fruit trees. Three-fourths of a martin's diet consists of wasps, bugs and beetles. It will be impossible to discuss all the birds ready to accept invita- tions to make their homes near you, but we cannot pass by that little announcer of spring, the bluebird. Like the robin, phoebe and house wren, Mr. Bluebird is very domes- tic in his habits. He belongs to no clubs and always stays at home evenings.

Bluebirds usually seek out natural cavities in old apple trees or cran- nies in farm buildings. It is well to bear this in mind when fashioning a Remember the bluebird's

��SCREWS FOR REMOVING OPENING DOOR

��A sanitary bird-house in- vented by Edwin H. Reiber. The nest cannot get over- heated and yet admits no drafts. Note that the perch is on the right of the entrance, since birds are right-handed

��bluebird house.

love for old weathered wood and do not offend him by offering him a gaudy, freshly-painted, stiff little house which has no history or traditions. Instead, use some old boards that have felt the sun's expansive heat in summer, and the icy sleet

���This lunch counter is always protected from the wind, be- ing pivoted on its support

��Sunflower seeds are the chief attraction at this window cafe. A house finch, gold finch and Oregon junco are the three very hungry and very appreciative patrons shown

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