378 USEFUL BIRDS. 



We may properl}^ include under the head of winter feeding 

 the provision of food for such land birds as migrate through 

 Xew England in late fall, winter, or early spring, and those 

 that are resident in winter. At that season the farmer is 

 likely to have more time to attend to birds than in sunnner, 

 and in the colder months they most need our help. No doubt 

 thousands of birds, that might have been saved with very 

 little troul)le on the farmer's part, have been starved in hard 

 winters. 



We may expect to be visited in autumn by Robins and 

 other migrating Thrushes, some of which, in favorable sea- 

 sons, may remain through the winter. To keep such birds 

 in winter we must have sheltering evergreens, and vines, 

 shrubs, and trees which retain their fruit. The berries of 

 the Virginia creeper are especially acceptable to Tlu'ushes. 



It is very desirable to keep Avith us as long as possible 

 the many species of Sparrows which pass through the coun- 

 try on their way south in fall, and to persuade as many as 

 we may to remain tlii'ough the winter. Careless husbandry 

 tends to bring these birds about in spring and fall, when 

 they gather to feed on weed seeds in neglected gardens and 

 fields ; but, if we wish to have them continue this good work 

 all tlu-ough the winter and spring, they must be provided 

 with food, under shelter, to which they can resort during 

 snowstorms and afterward, while the snow lies deep or when 

 all vegetation is covered with a coating of ice from the driv- 

 ing sleet or freezing rain. The Sparrows seem to prefer, as 

 a place of refuge from their enemies, the shelter afforded by 

 thickets and tangles of deciduous bushes and vines, such as 

 may sometimes be found on the south side of a hill near the 

 edge of a swamp. A few brush piles will give them addi- 

 tional shelter. A little chaff scattered in the dooryard will 

 bring them about the house whenever a flurry of snow covers 

 the ground. Where there are scratching sheds for poultry, 

 with the south side of each shed open except for its screen 

 of poultry netting, the birds will find shelter and food on 

 cold and stormy mornings. Birds readily pass through or- 

 dinary two-inch mesh poultry netting, and when once in the 

 shed they are safe from the attacks of cats and Hawks. Where 



