146 Wild Bird Guests 



to trample it down. It is not easy, even with 

 a snow-shovel, to thoroughly clear a generous 

 space where there is long grass or weeds ; cleared 

 spaces are apt to become wet or muddy and 

 are usually unsightly. The trampling process is 

 quicker, much quicker if we have snowshoes, 

 it makes no unsightly patches, and moreover 

 the well-trodden snow forms the most pleasing 

 background against which to see our feathered 

 guests. 



It is best to put out a day's supply of fresh 

 food each morning; the birds learn to connect 

 our appearance with the coming of good things 

 for them, and gradually lose their fear of us. 

 Moreover, by putting out comparatively small 

 quantities of food we avoid the danger of un- 

 necessary waste when snowstorms come and 

 cover up whatever is on the ground. If there 

 is danger from cats we should select for our 

 feeding station a space well out in the open; if 

 there are shrubs or other tall plants about, the 

 cats will be able to creep up within leaping 

 distance before the birds are aware of their 

 presence. 



This much we can do without any appliances, 

 and at no expense beyond the cost of the food. 

 But some of us will wish to make rather more 

 elaborate preparations, so I shall now describe 



