194 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.^ 



or suet, all may be used for this purpose. Uncleaned bones 

 from the market hung upon the orchard trees will furnish food 

 for these birds. Fat or suet will give them the needed animal 

 heat on which they must rely during the coldest weather. If 

 a bird can get food enough, it can withstand very cold weather, 

 but if it starves, it soon freezes. Bones and suet should be put 

 out early in the fall, that they may attract and hold birds that 

 are migrating. These food materials should be renewed occa- 

 sionally until late in spring, for when we have once taught the 

 birds to rely upon them, we must keep up the supply, if we wish 

 to retain the birds ; if they are not provided with a never- 

 failing food supply, storms may drive them away or starve 

 them. When birds have found the food provided for them 

 and have become accustomed to look for it daily, we may, if 

 we will, attract them about or even into our dwellings. 



Chickadees and nuthatches are remarkably unsuspicious, and 

 may be taught to eat from the hand of any one who cares to 

 spend the time necessary to accomplish that end. 



Several. other species may be enticed to our doors and win- 

 dows, where their habits and manners may be watched and 

 studied in comfort during the most inclement winter weather. 

 To accomplish this, and at the same time to see the birds upon 

 the limbs and in their natural attitudes, small shrubs or 

 branches may be fastened upright to each window sill that may 

 be selected as most convenient for the purpose. The branch- 

 lets and twigs may extend over the entire window and they 

 may be further supported by being tacked here and there to 

 the window frame. Small pieces of meat, fat or suet, may 

 then be tied on the branches. These morsels should be well 

 wound with twine, to prevent any bird from tearing one down 

 or carrying it off bodily, and should be tied up about a foot 

 apart that the birds may all have an opportunity to come at the 

 same time, if they w-ish to do so. If only one piece of meat is 

 provided, the birds are likely to fight over it, or to drive one 

 another away; but if the above directions are followed, they 

 will soon learn that there is enough for all, and several birds 

 may be seen feeding at once at the same window. While these 

 birds are being thus attracted to the windows, the sparrows 

 also may be drawn about the house by chaff or bird seed thrown 

 upon the ground or snow. 



