210 PROPAGATION OF WILD BIRDS 



attractive surroundings and making these safe from enemies. 

 The main difference is that in the previous cases the matter 

 of surroundings consisted largely of selecting suitable nat- 

 ural wild haunts, while in the present effort the environ- 

 ments of civilization must be restored to certain semblance 

 of wild nature. 



In trying to adopt a logical order of treatment the result 

 depends somewhat upon the viewpoint. While the matter 

 of furnishing attractive surroundings, as furnishing our 

 stage-setting for the fascinating drama to be progressively 

 enacted before us, is obviously fundamental, from the prac- 

 tical standpoint the public need not wait for years for 

 trees and shrubs to grow before interesting themselves in 

 useful practical ways with the birds, and really helping to 

 increase them. While the surroundings are gradually im- 

 proving so as to harbour more of them, we can help at least 

 a few of them to nest and rear their young, and feed those 

 that in severe winter weather are driven by necessity to our 

 doors. Hence it may be practical logic to describe first the 

 matters next to hand. These are the things which every one 

 can do, and can begin on at once. Every little success be- 

 comes a triumph. The children are delighted, and learn to 

 know and befriend the birds. This sort of thing is im- 

 portant to advance a nation-wide movement already begun 

 for the restoration of bird life. Every intelligent person 

 can do and ought to do something. Every household, un- 

 less in congested city areas, would do well to put up and care 

 for at least one nest-box for the birds and a little lunch- 

 counter for winter feeding. Reader, will you not do it? 



The detailed plan of what may be undertaken follows. 





