THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS. 383 
few feet away. Quick motions on the part of the observer 
should be avoided. If the birds are shy, a lace sash curtain 
may be put up. They cannot see through this, and may be 
watched at leisure. 
We have fed the birds in this way for years. A flock of 
Juncos and Tree Sparrows and two Fox Sparrows remained 
about our house through the hard winter of 1903-04. Many 
Jays came to the trees near by, and some to the windows. 
Crows came within twenty yards of the house. Myrtle 
Warblers occasionally came to the windows. Downy Wood- 
peckers, two species of Nuthatches, Flickers, Creepers, 
Kinglets, Crossbills, 
Robins, Grouse, Quail, [ 
and Pheasants were seen 
about the house from time 
to time. A large dry 
goods box in which grain oe 
and chaff were scattered  windorf 
was set out on the north : 
side of the house. This 
Light spring 
1 
box was open only on the oo! 
south side. The Quail co h. cera 
and Pheasants soon found (a a oe. 
it. Then it was moved fr Board 10%long by 6*high 
daily a little nearer the 
house, until the birds had ao eee eee 
learned to feed about the 
door-yard.!_ The presence of so many birds gave a healthy 
stimulus to observation, and served to break the monotony 
of winter isolation on the farm. While in the bleaker por- 
tions of the State it may not be possible to assemble so 
many, some may be attracted anywhere. 
Even our city friends who try this plan need not despair 
of seeing, now and then, besides the ubiquitous Sparrow, 
some of the wild birds of field and woodland. In many lo- 
1 It is of the utmost importance to provide food and shelter for Quail in winter. 
An old box or barrel, a shelter of rails in a fence corner, or a “ birds’ tepee ”’ of 
bean poles, any one of which is kept supplied with « little grain, may carry 
through a severe winter Quail enough tostock a whole township by their increase. 
