264 PROPAGATION OF WILD BIRDS 



placed well up to the height of the eaves. In some models 

 a rather narrow strip of glass runs entirely around the house 

 just below the edge of the roof. This makes it possible to 

 place the tray lower down, in better light, and yet protected 

 from the weather. Lower down on the post is another 

 smaller tray, which serves to attract the birds to the struc- 

 ture, though it is not so well protected. After feeding there 

 they readily find their way up higher. It should be located 

 in a warm, sheltered spot, where birds will like to come. 



Weather-vane Food-box. Another covered feeding- 

 place is a box of any rectangular shape with one end open. 

 This is made to revolve on a rod on a post, with arms or 

 "wings" extended on each side of the open end. This acts 

 as a weather-vane, the wings turning the entrance to the 

 box always away from the wind, so that snow does not drive 

 in, and birds can always find food. 



. Food-bell. Still another device is the food-bell, which is 

 an automatic device somewhat on the principle of the 

 poultry self-feeders. Seeds and other foods are in a jar 

 above, and drop down as fast as the birds eat it below. The 

 exact mechanism is fully described in the Hiesemann book. 

 It does not appear to be much in use in this country, as the 

 few birds which we have in winter seem better served by the 

 other simpler devices. Other curious and ingenious contriv- 

 ances are also described in the above work. 



Other Birds to Feed. Methods for feeding such birds 

 as quails and grouse in winter have been described in Part 

 I. In bitterly cold spells when nearly all water surface 

 becomes frozen except air holes or small openings, and wild 

 ducks congregate in these, it is a great boon to them to put 

 out corn on the edge of the ice. This is often done by game- 

 wardens and others, and many valuable wildfowl have thus 

 been saved. 



