SEED-EATERS AND MEAT-EATERS. 45 
but a hail-storm. The pepper berries ripen in mid- 
winter, and it is worth one’s while to see a flock of 
robins and waxwings come into our yard. In a few 
days almost every pepper tree has been robbed, and 
nothing is left us but the brown seeds. 
These, and other birds from the north who come to 
pay us a visit in winter, are tamer than they are at 
home. They seem to think that we are on our honor 
to be polite to strangers, and so we are. 
If you watch closely, wherever you live, at some time 
in the year you will see visiting birds in your yard and 
you ought to be polite to them. 
CHAP ERR -X. 
SEED-EATERS AND MEAT-EATERS. 
Ir we wish to keep one of the wild birds in a cage, 
we usually select one of the seed-eaters. These birds 
are gentle and are readily tamed. Our tame canaries 
are descended from the wild seed-eaters. 
Seed-eating birds make us think of some nations of 
men who live on rice or fruit. Those who have been 
among these people tell us that they are gentle and 
kind and ready to learn. 
Many birds are very fond of spiders. It is said that 
spiders are a kind of “bird medicine,” and that some 
birds could not live without them. This seems rather 
