396 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



OUR BIRDS. 



MRS. G. F. BENSON, LAKE CITS'. 



" All day I have been hunting 



For ends of scarlet bunting, 



For pieces out of rag-bags wliose colors make a show; 



Fragments of red or azure, 



Bright bits of doll-house treasure, 



And faded bows and ribbons worn many years ago, 



"From sill and from projection 



I hang this gay collection; 



I strew the lawn and garden path, I fringe each bush and tree; 



I dress the door and casement, 



The garret, and the basement. 



Then watch to see if birds, perchance, will use my charity. 



"There comes a pretty chatter, 

 There comes a fairy patter 



Of tiny feet upon the roof and branches hanging low, 

 And flirts of wing and feather, 

 And little strifes together. 



And sheers, and flights, and flutterings, and wheelings to and fro. 

 ******* 



"The stock is just diminished. 



And when the nests are finished. 



The nests of orioles and wrens, of robins and of jays. 



In pleasant summer leisures, 



I'll watch the rag-bag's treasures 



Swing in the wind and sunshine, above the garden ways." 



Those who, like the author of these sweet child-verses, try their hand 

 at "Helping the Birds,'' will find their efforts amply rewarded by the in- 

 creased confidence of the little creatures, and by the discovery of individual 

 traits, which develop on close acquaintance. 



One of the pleasures of living in a village is the opportunities afforded 

 by the spacious lawns and gardens with their many trees and shrubs for 

 the study and enjoyment of bird-life; and I know of no place where the 

 birds have more friends who love them, pet them and try to protect 

 them than our own little "City" by the "Lake." Many lawns have a space 

 devoted to the use of the birds, where crumbs and seed are thrown, and 

 where water is kept in shallow pans for their daily bath. The little 

 things soon learn to look upon tliis spot as their exclusive property, and 

 grow so tame that they will quarrel over whose turn it is to take a bath, 

 while the hammock ten feet away is occupied by an interested and 

 amused spectator.. 



In the winter, a large piece of suet is fastened to some convenient post 

 or tree, where the blue jays, downy woodpeckei's and nut-hatches come 

 daily for a good square meal. The chickadees also take a little lunch oc- 

 casionally, not that they are fond of suet, but just to let us know that 

 they appreciate our good intentions. 



