BIRDS IN THE GARDEN 245 



mon elder, which makes a handsome shrub, and the 

 robin of the Russian mulberry and wild cherry. 

 The mulberry and cherry are trees, but not too 

 large to be worked into a garden scheme. These 

 three fruits ought to be on every place for the birds 

 not only to encourage them to stay around and 

 feed on insects but to keep their minds off choicer 

 fruit. South of Washington the china tree (Melia 

 azederach) is a fine attraction for the birds. In the 

 North the mountain ash, red cedar and dogwood 

 are sure to keep robins and other birds around late 

 in the year. 



Always the English sparrow stays by the garden; 

 he does some good there and no particular harm. 

 He is pugnacious, but is less responsible for keeping 

 other birds away than are the presence of disturb- 

 ing cats, dogs and the absence of attractive food 

 and shelter. If food be placed in the garden in 

 winter the junco, chickadee, blue jay, tree sparrow, 

 fox sparrow, song sparrow and starling will all 

 share the spread with the English sparrow; the 

 downy woodpecker also, when the table is a piece 

 of board fastened to a tree. For the birds in win- 

 ter tie a piece of suet on a tree or shrub, out of the 

 reach of cats, from time to time and throw on the 

 garden walk or on an elevated bird table, bread- 

 crumbs and mixed bird-seed. 



Water is always a great attraction tp the birds; 

 they like to drink it and they like to bathe in it. 

 Running water is best, but a still bird basin will do 

 if properly cared for. Fill it every night and place 



