380 



USEFUL BIRDS. 



benefit to the orchard, by eating the eggs of the tent cater- 

 pillar moth. 



Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, and Chickadees are all attracted 

 by animal food. Juncos and Tree Sparrows acquire a taste 

 for it during deep snows, when their usual food is buried. 

 Unsalted bones, with meat, fat, or marrow attached, beef or 



Fig. 159. — Downy Woodiiecker feeding on suet at the author's window. (From Bird- 

 Lore.) 



mutton tallow, fat, or suet may all be used for this purpose. 

 Beef bones from the market, hung upon or wired to the or- 

 chard trees, will furnish food for these birds. Some bones 

 should be split, to expose the contents. Fat or suet will give 

 the needed animal heat on which birds must rely during cold, 

 stormy weather. Pork rind, even, may be used ; but salt 

 meat is believed to be bad food for birds, although some will 

 eat it, and Crossbills api)ear to be ver}^ fond of it. If a bird 

 can get food enough, it can withstand very cold weather ; but 

 if it starves, it soon freezes. Bones or suet should be put 



