ATTRACTING THE WINTER BIRDS 99 



tangle of vines and bushes, and if there are none 

 of these on the place, piles of brush or corn- 

 stalks may serve as a shelter. 



Experiments in Germany 

 Baron von Berlepsch, who has experimented 

 for eleven years in Germany, says that three con- 

 ditions are necessary for effective feeding of win- 

 ter birds. " The sensible and effective method of 

 feeding birds must (1) be readily accepted by 

 those for whom it is intended ; (2) be carried out 

 in all weathers : that is to say, the food must al- 

 ways be accessible to all birds, especially in the 

 sudden changes of the weather, bHzzards, winds, 

 rain, and frost, and must always be in the best 

 condition ; (3) it must be comparatively cheap : 

 that is, the money spent on the food must really 

 serve its purpose. The food must not be wasted 

 or spoiled, but must be used by the birds to the 

 last crumb." 



Perhaps the chief lesson which we in America 

 have to learn from this experiment in Germany 

 is to make more adequate provision for protecting 

 the food put out, instead of allowing it to be open 

 and exposed to all kinds of weather. 



Four devices for feeding birds have been used 

 by Baron von Berlepsch: the " food-tree," "food- 

 stick," "food-house," and "food-bell." 



