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Southland Times, Issue 693, 8 July 1867, Page 2

" AETiFiciAi ~]sE3TS.~— r-The BuUeiiri" de la Societie d Acclimatisation states that . actifical birds' nests are now made in Switzerland under ithe direction of the societies formed there for the protection o£ insectivorous birds. One of the members of a society of .this description, who inhabits Vevey, having observed that many species of that kind select for nests the holes they find in the 'trunks of rotten trees, and that they consequently do not find it easy to settle in orchards, where all the trees are in good condition, began, twenty five years ago, to set up rotten trunks in his grounds ; and since then he has hadno need to trouble himself in the least about ' clearing ' away caterpillars, that care being entirely left to his winged guests, who perform their duty | admirably. His neighbours, on the contrary, who have not had this foresight, have had their orchards laid waste by a rioste of voracious insects The Yverdun Society have gone the length of placing artificial nests even in the public walks and eommunol foi-c»fc s , ou ilio borders of the lawns &c. All those nests are now inhabited by hedge sparrows, redstarts, creepers, and tomtits all which may be found in Switezerland as* hi^h up as the perpetual snow-line. The same practice has found its way into Germany. 1 The Laws op the Helm. — Capt Pajnter, E. N., HALS. Donegal, has written a hook upon this subject. In order to prevent collisions he submits the following questions and answers as conveying the soundest system of steering when meeting auothev vessel. "If you see all three .lights, right ahead ? Port. If you see three lights right astern ?. Steady on the same course. If you see a red light on the port bow ? Port. If you see a green light on the port bow ? Port. If you see a red light on the starboard bow? Starboard. If you see a green light on the starboard bow ? Starboard. If you see a red light right ahead? Port. 7 Stop the engines. If you see a green light right ahead ? Starboard. Stop the engines. If you see all three lights on your port beam? Eull speed ahead. Port. If you see all three lights on your starboard beam P i Eull Bpeed ahead. Starboard. In all oases have the two last, :< Blow speed' mtfc tN> engine?-"*"***