58 OUR NATIVE BIRDS 



and in early spring I have seen the English sparrows 

 feed on the first grass that was uncovered by the melting 

 of the snow. If you children wish to prepare a special 

 Christmas treat for the birds, sow some grain or grass 

 in boxes in late autumn. Chop the young grass or 

 grain quite fine, place it in the usual feeding place, 

 and see how the birds like it. It may be that some of 

 them will also eat chopped cabbage and kale. 



If you feed the birds at all, be sure you do not for- 

 get them in sudden and severe snow storms. They 

 must sleep on trees or in holes, while you are tucked 

 away in your warm bed. The cold makes them very 

 hungry, but often all their food is covered up and they 

 cannot fly to other regions while the storm lasts. 

 Birds do not easily die of cold alone, but they starve 

 in a very short time. Sometimes the trees, the weeds, 

 and the ground become coated with ice. Such weather 

 makes a skating-park of the whole town, but it means 

 starvation to many birds unless you feed them. 



SPECIAL FEEDING-PLACES FOR DIFFERENT GROUPS 

 OF BIRDS 



1. Elevated Boards. Nail lasts around the edge of 

 a board of convenient size, then nail the board hori- 

 zontally to some suitable branches. Feed seeds of sun- 

 flower, pumpkin, hemp, timothy, seed from the hay 

 loft, bits of cracked nuts, mast, bits of cooked or raw 

 meat not too salt, suet, etc. 



2. Field Places. The food is placed on the ground. 



