96 METHODS OF ATTRACTING BIRDS 



complete protection from the attacks of the crafty 

 cat, and a partial protection from the sparrows, 

 which avoid it unless they are very hungry. 



During the winter seven species of birds fed 

 from the counter at the window-sill : the chicka- 

 dee, white-breasted nuthatch, downy woodpecker, 

 brown creeper, blue jay, hermit thrush, and myrtle 

 warbler. Photographs were secured of all these 

 species. 



As an illustration of what happened at these 

 lunch-counters under favorable conditions, may 

 be given the following account of a day with the 

 birds, in which the author and Master Uehling 

 kept watch from before sunrise till after sunset, 

 recording the kinds of birds coming for food, the 

 kinds of food taken, and the counter from which 

 the food was taken. The day (February 9) was 

 cold and clear, and the snow deep. Three kinds 

 of food were used : suet, sunflower-seeds, and 

 bread-crumbs. They were put in four places: 

 bread-crumbs on the ground, suet and bread- 

 crumbs on a shelf attached to a tree about fifteen 

 feet from the house, suet and sunflower-seeds on a 

 shelf at the window, and on the moving counter, 

 which was drawn up close to it. Observations 

 lasted from 6 a. m. to 5 p. m. The first bird came 

 at 6.42, and the last at 4.33, making an interval 

 of about 10 hours. 



