156 Wild Bird Guests 



supply a tiny "food dish," which is protected 

 from the weather by a metal "bell," a foot in 

 diameter, from which it takes its name. It can 

 be fastened to trees, piazza posts, or the sides of 

 windows by means of iron rods which are screwed 

 into the wood above and below. A piece of suet 

 or a net bag of nut-meats will serve to guide the 

 birds to the "food dish" in the first instance. 

 We have given this device a long trial in Meriden, 

 and find it very good for chickadees. They fly 

 up under the bell, and carry off the hemp seed 

 one at a time to some near perch. Each seed is 

 held with the feet while the shell is cracked with 

 the bill. A recent visitor to the bird sanctuary 

 at Meriden was delighted to find that the chicka- 

 dees came to the food bell quite unconcerned while 

 she stood with her hand resting on the bell. 



The Food Tree 



The "food tree" is simply an evergreen, pre- 

 ferably a spruce, fir, or hemlock, covered with 

 bird food. A discarded Christmas tree will answer 

 the purpose very well. A growing tree should 

 not be used as the following treatment will kill it. 

 There is no limit as to size, though a rather small 

 tree will be found more convenient in every way 

 than a large one. I generally select one about 



