"226 



Bird- Lore 



make the time. It has been my experience that no better workers can be 

 found than the boys from the High Schools and the upper grades of the 

 grammar schools, especially if their work is superintended by some older 

 person in whom they have confidence. But, whoever the workers are, they 

 should have the support of the entire community; they are engaged in 

 a public work. 



The coming of the first real snow-storm is considered the signal for 

 the beginning of operations. The volunteers meet at some convenient 



^^^■^HHHBHk. x^ 



SQUAD OF STONEHAM, MASS., HIGH SCHOOL BOYS MAKING A 



FEEDING STATION IN AN OPEN FIELD 



Photographed by A. J. Sears 



building, like the High School or Town Hall, where the bird food has 

 previously been stored, and, if they are wise, they come dressed for work in 

 the snow. The country in and about the town is divided into sections, 

 and a squad of boys, two, three or four in number, is assigned to each 

 section. Each squad is provided with snow- shovels, a bag or basket to carry 

 the grain or bird seed, a quantity of fat meat or suet and plenty of string 

 with which to tie it to the trunks and branches of trees. The suet or other 

 fat, which is of course intended chiefly for the insectivorous birds, is displayed 

 in conspicuous places on trees, and the string is wound round and round, so 

 as to form a sort of net which prevents the food from falling to the ground. 



