158 Wild Bird Guests 



fat must be melted and the dry food stirred in 

 thoroughly. 



This mixture, bubbling hot, should be poured 

 carefully over all the twigs and branches of the 

 evergreen, care being taken to keep it well 

 sitrred up during the operation. It may be 

 poured with a long-handled ladle held in one 

 hand, and the drip can be caught in a frying pan 

 or something similar, held in the other. The 

 cold air will quickly "set" the fat with all the 

 good things it contains, on the tree, where both 

 insectivorous and seed-eating birds will find it, 

 and each take what he likes best from the variety 

 of food offered. If there is any of the mixture 

 left after the tree is covered, it may be poured 

 into molds and when hard served as "food-cake" 

 or "food-stone" in the trays or food houses. 



It is not necessary to stick very closely to the 

 receipt. The ground dried beef, the hemp seed, 

 and the bread crumbs should always be used, 

 and of course the fat is essential. If certain of 

 the other ingredients cannot readily be obtained, 

 they may be left out, or other good foods, such 

 as nuts and pumpkin seeds, ground or chopped, 

 may be substituted for them. Now a suggestion 

 about preparing the meat. The first time I 

 made this food, I dried the raw beef and at- 

 tempted to grind it afterwards ; I found myself 



