THE BIRD STUDY BOOK 



on the rafters of bridges. Many creep into cracks of 

 outhouses. I have found them at night in caves, 

 barns, and once in a covered wagon. Almost any 

 available shelter may have its bird tenant on cold 

 nights, who if undisturbed will often return again and 

 again to the refuge it has once found safe and com- 

 fortable. 



Birds that pass the winter in the Northern States 

 are subjected to many hardships. In fact, the fatali- 

 ties in the bird world in winter are so great, and the 

 population so constantly reduced by one form of 

 tragedy or another, that it is only the stronger and 

 more fortunate individuals of a species that survive 

 to enjoy the summer. 



The Food Question in Winter. — Where to secure the 

 food is the big question which confronts every bird 

 when it opens its eyes on the first snowy morning of 

 winter. Not only has the whole aspect of the country 

 been changed, but the old sources of food have passed 

 away. Not a caterpillar is to be found on the dead 

 leaves, and not a winged insect is left to come flying 

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