BIRDS OF PEASEMARSH 



the best sort of food and that which can always 

 be relied upon, for its being placed there is not 

 dependent upon the memory of some human 

 being, is the natural food for the birds, that 

 grows upon the ground or on bushes, or trees or 

 shrubs. Unfortunately, this is sometimes very 

 hard for the birds to obtain. The clearing of 

 the land has wiped out such bushes as sumac 

 and elderberry, and such vines as bittersweet 

 and the wild clematis that in old days filled 

 many of the fence corners, making these as well 

 as a haven of safety for the birds, an abundant 

 food supply which seldom failed. Some of the 

 berries were likely to hang on all winter, and 

 to be there when the migrating birds returned 

 in the spring, so that they could always fall 

 back upon them if they were overtaken by an 

 untimely storm and unable to get anything 

 else. 



Bird lovers are beginning to realize the im- 

 portance of planting in their sanctuaries the 

 wild shrubs and vines that provide food for the 

 birds. Barberry bushes and mulberry trees are 

 two of the most attractive. The mulberries 

 ripening so gradually provide a dainty change 

 for the birds for many weeks, and the barber- 

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