82 



in the open), especially fat, suet and scraps of meat. The "food- 

 stones " are also most suitable here : they are laid on the table whole 

 or broken. In very cold weather they must be broken into very small 

 pieces. Similar mixtures, which are not meant for pouring out, and 

 are therefore made with less suet, are often called " food-cakes." 



The " food-house " is soon visited by all species of birds : blackbirds, 

 song- thrushes, finches, tits, wrens, and golden-crested wrens are its 

 constant visitors.* 



(D) The ■' Food-bell." 



This is also covered in such a fashion that the hemp seed it contains 

 — only hemp should be put in the "food-bell" — is protected from the 

 weather, and yet is always within easy reach of the birds. The " food- 

 bell " (see Fig. 8) consists of the food-dish A (diameter 2J inches, depth 

 J inch), the tube B (width H inch), the food receptacle C (contents 

 3^ pints), and the metal beU D (diameter 1 foot). In constructing the 

 apparatus the most important matter is that the lower edge of the 

 tube is 1-16 inch below the upper edge of the " food-dish " A, and the 

 upper edge of the dish 1-16 inch higher than the lower edge 

 of the beU. The apparatus only works well if this condition is exactly 

 observed, and only then is a wasting of the food prevented. 



The " beU. " works automaticaUy, as soon as the receptacle — the lid 

 of which can be unscrewed — is filled mth hemp seed. In consequence 

 of the pecuHar, yet simple, construction of the apparatus, exactly the 

 same number of seeds fall through the tube on to the dish as have 

 been taken by the birds. 



The " food-bell," like the " food-house," is a very economical appara- 

 tus, and as the receptacle is of glass, it is easy to see when it requires 



* In Seebach the " food-house " is used to feed game as well as small birds. 

 I think I cannot describe this arrangement better than in Baron von Berlepsch's 

 own words : — " The ' food-house,' in addition to feeding our small birds, can be 

 advantageously used as a feeding-place for partridges and pheasants. For this 

 purpose I made the coverings of fir as dense as possible, leaving two entrance 

 holes. I either had bushy firs put between the posts and primed on the inner 

 side, or I nailed a horizontal lath halfway between the ground and the strip of 

 glass, and fastened fir branches to them, m addition to the firs at the corner-posts. 

 In the space thus protected on all sides, another feeding-place is put mider the 

 food-table for the pheasants and partridges and, as a rule, it is promptly used 

 by them," 



