front should face the South or Southwest. A few flat stones 

 piled on the covering will prevent the winter gales from sweeping 

 it away. Place a quantity of the mixed grain and grit along the 

 extreme back of this open shelter, where it will be away from the 

 snow that may drift in around the front edges of this shelter. By 

 a little extra labor a shallow trough can be constructed and placed 

 at the back of the shelter, into which the grain may be poured. 

 Chaff, sweepings from the barn floor, or rye straw should be scat- 

 tered on the snow-covered ground in the vicinity of the shelter, 

 for the purpose of enticing the birds to their banquet hall. This 

 arrangement, when the food is regularly supplied, assures the 

 birds that the pangs of hunger will not be felt, no matter how 

 inclement the weather. When the birds have found this free lunch 

 counter, they will resort to it daily, with unfailing regularity, as 

 long as the country is ice and snowbound. 



Should it be necessary to scatter food about on the snow, with- 

 out protection, first trample the snow as hard as possible, and 

 then spread the grain or other food on the trampled spot. Thrown 

 upon the snow without this precaution, it sinks at once, where it 

 cannot be found by the birds, and is simply a waste of both time 

 and material. 



For the smaller birds food houses may be built. There are two 

 forms of these houses that have been used in this country, both 

 of which are simply modifications of the types invented for this 

 purpose by von Berlepsch of Germany. 



One of these is so constructed that when it is set in position it 

 swings with the force of the wind like a weather-vane, and the en- 

 trance always faces away from the wind so that the food and the 

 bird guests are protected from the storms. The other food house 

 is made in the form of a rectangular hood with glass sides, that 

 project below the food shelf within, and both protect the food from 

 snow or rain, and at the same time admit an abundance of light 

 Working plans with correct dimensions are given on page 39, for 

 the swinging food house and game-bird shelter. 



[41] 



