358 NATURE STUDY AND LIFE 



be, that while different species doubtless have quite differ- 

 ent habits of feeding, all birds seek and enjoy great variety 

 in foods. 



As to the choice we make, the only rule to follow is to 

 provide as nearly as possible the natural foods of the 

 species. The food chart tells us nearly all that is known 

 on this subject. With any species we have only to fol- 

 low out the line from the name and read at a glance what 

 the bird is known to eat. If the exact species is not on 

 the chart, we may study the foods of closely related birds 

 and not go far astray. We should also bear in mind that 

 even the finches and sparrows feed their young as long 

 as they are in the nest, chiefly, or wholly, on insects. 

 Spiders are often called, among bird fanciers, the best 

 medicine a bird can have, and I have found this true. If 

 your bird seems to be inclined to droop, a meal of these 

 will almost invariably act like magic. It will be noticed 

 that every bird in the chart eats grasshoppers. These 

 can generally be caught in abundance toward the end of 

 summer. At this season they are filled with eggs and 

 form a most nutritious diet. Grasshoppers would make 

 a most valuable insect bird food for winter use if caught 

 at this time and dried. They should be scalded and dried 

 thoroughly, and then if scalded again a short time before 

 feeding, they are nearly as good as fresh. " Ants' eggs," 

 which are the pupae of ants, are also a valuable bird food. 

 They may be had of bird dealers for about a dollar a 

 pound, but for a dry food I think grasshoppers may well 

 take their place. For the sake of variety the children 

 may be encouraged to try gathering a few from under- 

 neath stones and logs or from ant-hills. 



