BIRD BOXES.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") Sitt,—I was much interested in your article on "Bird Boxes." One sees in different parts of the Continent so much more attention given to this question. However, I do not think I have ever seen any reference made to a strange custom seen by me this last autumn in the Vol d'A-osta. For days I had been puzzling as to the reason for earthenware excrescences from the walls of houses, and on inquiry at last I found that they were nesting-jars built into the wall, just as we use various devices for obtaining an effect by various patterns of brick- work or otherwise. They spot these jars about outside their buildings, so as to form not only a home for birds but also a pleasant feature architecturally. I have thought some prac- tical use might be made in our country of this idea, and thus perhaps save the use of the under-eaves for nesting purposes.
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