58 OUR NATIVE BIRDS 
and in early spring I have seen the English sparrows 
feed on the first grass that was uncovered by the melting 
of the snow. If you children wish to prepare a special 
Christmas treat for the birds, sow some grain or grass 
in boxes in late autumn. Chop the young grass or 
grain quite fine, place it in the usual feeding place, 
and see how the birds like it. It may be that some of 
them will also eat chopped cabbage and kale. 
If you feed the birds at all, be sure you do not for- 
get them in sudden and severe snow storms. They 
must sleep on trees or in holes, while you are tucked 
away in your warm bed. The cold makes them very 
hungry, but often all their food is covered up and they 
cannot fly to other regions while the storm lasts. 
Birds do not easily die of cold alone, but they starve 
in a very short time. Sometimes the trees, the weeds, 
and the ground become coated with ice. Such weather 
makes a skating-park of the whole town, but it means 
starvation to many birds unless you feed them. 
SPECIAL FEEDING-PLACES FOR DIFFERENT GROUPS 
or Brirps 
1. Elevated Boards. — Naii lasts around the edge of 
a board of convenient size, then nail the board hori- 
zontally to some suitable branches. Feed seeds of sun- 
flower, pumpkin, hemp, timothy, seed from the hay 
loft, bits of cracked nuts, mast, bits of cooked or raw 
meat not too salt, suet, ete. 
2. Field Places. — The food is placed on the ground. 
