BIRDS IN THE GARDEN 245 
mon elder, which makes a handsome shrub, and the 
robin of the Russian mulberry and wild cherry. 
The mulberry and cherry are trees, but not too 
large to be worked into a garden scheme. These 
three fruits ought to be on every place for the birds 
—not only to encourage them to stay around and 
feed on insects but to keep their minds off choicer 
fruit. South of Washington the china tree (Melia 
azederach) isa fine attraction for the birds. In the 
North the mountain ash, red cedar and dogwood 
are sure to keep robins and other birds around late 
in the year. 
Always the English sparrow stays by the garden; 
he does some good there and no particular harm. 
He is pugnacious, but is less responsible for keeping 
other birds away than are the presence of disturb- 
ing cats, dogs and the absence of attractive food 
and shelter. If food be placed in the garden in 
winter the junco, chickadee, blue jay, tree sparrow, 
fox sparrow, song sparrow and starling will all 
share the spread with the English sparrow; the 
downy woodpecker also, when the table is a piece 
of board fastened to a tree. For the birds in win- 
ter tie a piece of suet on a tree or shrub, out of the 
reach of cats, from time to time and throw on the 
garden walk or on an elevated bird table, bread- 
crumbs and mixed bird-seed. 
Water is always a great attraction to the birds; 
they like to drink it and they like to bathe in it. 
Running water is best, but a still bird basin will do 
if properly cared for. Fill it every night and place 
