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.) 



