69 



After the holes have been filled with the food-mixture described 

 above, the piece of wood is fixed to a tree or post in a sheltered place 

 by means of the nail. It is best to turn the holes half or entirely down- 

 wards, to protect them from frost. 



These " food-sticks " are chiefly visited by tits, and serve not so 

 much for feeding as for accustoming birds to come to a particular 

 spot, so that they should be used near where there are nesting-boxes. 



The " food-stick " can be obtained from Scheid by those who do 

 not care for the slight trouble of making them. 



s- __ 



FIG. 4 THE "FOOD-STICK." 



Experience, however, showed that, though the " food- tree " and 

 "food-stick " fulfilled all conditions, they were not convenient enough 

 for some people, so that the birds were not fed at all in winter as long 

 as a simpler and equally useful way of feeding was not known. 



This circumstance induced Baron von Berlepsch to invent a way of 

 feeding which not only fulfilled the conditions already mentioned, but 

 which could be easily carried out by a child or an unskilful workman. 



The Hessian " food-house " and the " food-bell " were the result. 

 Both are based on the same principle the food- table in the one, and 

 the self-filling food-dish of the other are protected from the weather, 

 so that the food is always in good condition, and easily accessible for 

 the birds. 



(c) The Hessian " Food-house." 



The arrangement of this can be plainly seen in Figs. 5, 6, and 7. 

 It is to be preferred to all other ways of feeding. It consists mainly of 

 a roof resting on four corner-posts, and a centre-post with the upper, 

 actual food-table, and below it a smaller food-table. The food is placed 

 on the latter only until the birds have discovered the upper, proper 

 table. Below the roof, right round the house, a strip of glass is fixed 

 from post to post. It is of the greatest importance, and must not be 

 omitted or replaced by a board, as has sometimes been done. 



It not only protects the food from the weather, but also throws the 

 necessary light on to the table. 



