xxvi IN TE OD UCTION 



In the summer it is a very simple matter to 

 keep the birds about us by supplying the neces- 

 sary conditions; but people who live in the coun- 

 try can get more pleasure from the companionship 

 of birds in winter than summer, and the ques- 

 tion is how to draw the winter ones from the 

 woods. It can be done very easily by taking a 

 little pains to feed them. 



Bones and a few pieces of suet or the fat of 

 fresh pork nailed to a tree are enough to attract 

 Chickadees, Nuthatches, Woodpeckers, and Blue 

 Jays ; and a rind of salt pork will draw the salt- 

 eating Crossbills when they are in the neighbor- 

 hood. For food that can be blown away or 

 snowed under such as grain, or crumbs from 

 the table it is well to nail up boxes with open 

 fronts, placing them with the back to the prevail- 

 ing wind. As some birds prefer to feed on the 

 ground, it is a good thing to keep a space clear of 

 snow under a window, from which food can be 

 thrown without disturbing them : shy birds like 

 Grouse will come more freely to corn or buck- 

 wheat scattered on a barrel under the cover of an 

 evergreen. A window shelf protected by awning 

 is also an admirable thing. 



Most of these devices have been employed with 

 great success by Mrs. Davenport, in Brattleboro', 

 Vermont. She has fed the birds hemp seed, sun- 

 flower seed, nuts, fine-cracked corn, and bread. 

 As wheat bread freezes quickly, in very cold 



