84 



The wire must be at least 16 inches in length, so that squirrels, 

 rats, etc., cannot jump on to the food-dish from the lower rod. There 

 must be only one wire, not several twisted together, otherwise mice 

 can climb up and get at the hemp. On the Seebach station a food- 

 bell was repeatedly emptied by mice in this way. 



FIG. 9. "FOOD-BELL," HUNG UP BY MEANS OF HOOKED RODS. 



Instead of the upper rod, a sloping branch can also be used, and 

 instead of the lower one, a post fixed vertically beneath it, to which 

 the apparatus is fastened with wire. Two small nets filled with 

 nut kernels, or two small fir twigs covered with food, are hung on 

 the hooks inside the " food-bell " to tempt the tits at first ; one 



