382 USEFUL BIRDS. 
should be wound on firmly with string or wrapped in wire 
netting, so that it cannot be carried off bodily. At first the 
birds would come only one at a time, but when they became 
accustomed to this method of feeding, four or five birds would 
feed together at a window. Chickadees usually came first, 
Nuthatches and Downy Woodpeckers next, and Blue Jays 
last. 
While these birds were being enticed to the windows, the 
Sparrows were fed with seeds and crumbs thrown out upon 
the snow. Next, a 
shelf or table four and 
one-half feet long and 
two feet wide was made 
of rough box boards. 
This was bound round 
with a narrow cleat and 
covered with burlap, 
to prevent seeds and 
crumbs from blowing 
off. A little pine tree 
was next set up in the 
centre of the food table, 
the table or shelf was 
fastened under a win- 
dow sill on the south 
side of the house, vari- 
ous food materials were 
attached to the tree and 
spread upon the table, and the “ birds’ Christmas tree” was 
ready. 
The Chickadees came to it at once, and the first snow- 
storm brought the native Sparrows. At first there was quar- 
reling among them, as all wanted to feed at once, and both 
tree and table were small ; but necessity finally brought about 
more amicable relations, and at last many birds of different 
species would feed together. At first the Sparrows were 
shy, and flew off at the first movement made by any one 
inside. Later, one could sit by the window and see perhaps 
eight or ten birds of three or four species busily feeding, a 
Fig. 161.—The birds’ tepee. (From Bird-Lore.) 
