52 OUR NATIVE BIRDS 



even one sparrow alight, and always driving them from 

 the trees when I could. For two years this has worked 

 well, but what any season may bring forth, I cannot 

 tell. I find, too, that suet put on the under side of 

 boughs which incline about forty-five degrees, provid- 

 ing the bough be a good-sized one, is safe from this 

 bird, while any other can easily get it. 



" One of my friends shot two last spring, and the flock 

 left till this winter. Then she shot a third, and they 

 have not returned. 



"Pans of water for bathing and drinking are always 

 near the house, and I cannot advocate too strongly 

 their use to the bird lover. I use dripping-pans painted 

 inside and outside to protect them from rust. They 

 are about the right depth. To these I owe a glimpse 

 of many a rare warbler, and I think many a bird comes 

 to them first and then follows the other feeding birds. 

 I might fill a small book with the beautiful and inter- 

 esting sights common there. The birds bathe even 

 after the water freezes at night. In the fall I have 

 counted over fifty robins within three hours, enjoying 

 to the full this chance for a bath, and that as I would 

 come and go by the windows. There is one more dis- 

 cordant note to be struck the cat, and worst of all, 

 the neighbor's cat. The tramp cat might be and should 

 be eliminated. I think if we could have a license law 

 for cats as well as for dogs, this nuisance could be much 

 abated, but the neighbor's cat must be respected even 

 if he does commit depredations. One friend prevailed 

 on his neighbors to bell their cats, and so the birds had 



