330 A Plea for the Birds 



crowded in order that the birds may get in and 

 hide. 



The death of many birds has been caused by 

 careless spraying of trees and shrubbery with 

 arsenate of lead. Think of the birds when spraying, 

 and avoid, if possible, putting the arsenate of lead 

 where they will be likely to get at it. 



Birds eat grasshoppers, beetles, wasps, mosquito 

 larvse, potato bugs, boll-weevils, and many other 

 kinds. 



As many as fifty varieties of birds eat cater- 

 pillars, while thirty kinds feed on plant-lice. 



Birds will not sing unless they hear singing. 

 They learn by imitation only. 



The best time of day, during the summer, to study 

 the birds is between sunrise and ten o'clock in the 

 morning, and again just before sunset. During 

 the middle of the day, the birds keep out of sight 

 as much as possible. During the winter months, 

 the best hours are between ten o'clock in the 

 morning and two o'clock in the afternoon. The 

 spring is the best season of the year to start bird 

 study. 



