matter. In the case of sparrows, so many more are left
that traps alone are ineffective. An airgun properly used offers some
help in the city to drive them away from the premises, while a shot
gun or 22 caliber rifle are more effective in the country. If every
sparrow nest were torn down and no place given them in your
neighborhood, the pest is likely to avoid your grounds. Finally, keep
nesting boxes free from sparrows while the owners are away for the
winter.

BIRD HOUSE EXHIBITIONS.

Many cities are beginning to do excellent work along the lines of bird
preservation and attraction. This usually leads into an exhibition or
contest, though many times quantities of houses are made and sold for
other purposes, such as raising money for athletic suits for the
school teams.

At Cleveland, Ohio, a large number of houses such as are shown in
Figs. 15-19 were made for the city Bird Lovers' Association to be
placed in the city parks. The boys received the profits of the sale
after materials were paid for. In the Mercer Center, Seattle, Wash.,
the boys wanted suits for the "team." Bird houses were made in dozen
lots for a large department store, and soon the boys had all the money
the suits cost. Fig. 36 shows a group of 7th grade boys with the
houses made in two class periods of two hours each. At St. Paul,
Minn., the annual exhibit has become a larger affair than the
automobile show. This year it will be held in the city auditorium
which seats 10,000 people. The city council will pay the rent of this
building for a week and the boys will see that it is filled with bird
houses. Up to date (March 11, 1916) over $1,000 worth of orders have
been taken for houses to be delivered after the exhibition. Fig. 62
shows the palm room at the St. Paul exhibit in 1915. The county making
the most bird houses in 1915, so far as has been reported, was
Allegheny County, Pa., where approximately 15,000 houses were
produced. Fig. 67 shows the prize winners in a department store
contest at Pittsburgh, Pa., while an exhibit in the same city is shown
in Fig. 66.

[Illustration: FIG. 66. THE PITTSBURGH EXHIBIT.]

[Illustration: FIG. 67. PRIZEWINNERS IN DEPARTMENT STORE CONTEST.]

Space will not permit giving extended rules for such contests since
the rules must vary with each city. Briefly, there should be provision
made to give all competitors an equal chance. Boys of the 6th grade
should meet others of that grade. Prizes may be awa