382 



USEFUL niiius. 



should be wouiul on firmly with string or wrapped in wire 

 netting, so that it cannot be carried oft' bodily. At first the 

 birds would come only one at a time, but wdien they became 

 accustomed to this method of feeding, four or five birds would 

 feed together at a Avindow. Chickadees usually came first. 

 Nuthatches and Downy Woodpeckers next, and Blue Jays 

 last. 



While these birds were being enticed to the windows, the 

 Sparrows were fed with seeds and crumbs thrown out upon 

 the snow. Next, a 



shelf or table four and 



Fig. 161.— The birds' tepee. (From Bird Lore.) 



one-half feet long: and 

 two feet wide was made 

 of rough box boards. 

 This was bound round 

 with a narrow cleat and 

 covered with Imrlap, 

 to prevent seeds and 

 crumbs from l)lowino; 

 oft\ A little pine tree 

 w^as next set up in the 

 centre of the focjd table, 

 the table or shelf Avas 

 fastened under a Avin- 

 dow sill on the south 

 side of the house, A^ari- 

 ous food materials were 

 attached to the tree and 



spread upon the table, and the " birds' Christmas tree '" Avas 

 ready. 



The Chickadees came to it at once, and the first snow- 

 storm brought the native Sparrows. At first there Avas fjuar- 

 reling among them, as all Avanted to feed at once, and both 

 tree and table Avere small ; but necessity finally brought about 

 more amicable relations, and at last many birds of difi'erent 

 species Avould feed together. At first the Sparrows Avere 

 shy, and ftew oft' at the first movement made by any one 

 inside. Later, one could sit by the window and see perhaps 

 eight or ten birds of three or four species busily feeding, a 



