146 METHODS OF ATTRACTING BIRDS 



animal and vegetable. The purpose of this talk 

 should be, first, to show the children the kind of 

 food to be provided ; second, to show that much 

 of the food of the birds is covered by snow and 

 ice. Suggestions should be given regarding the 

 best kinds of food to be used and the best ways 

 of putting it out (for a discussion of which see 

 Chapter iii). The necessity of providing a con- 

 stant supply of food should be emphasized, and 

 also of seeing that there is a food-supply imme- 

 diately following snowstorms. It will be well to 

 remind the children each week about the food- 

 supply, so that they will not forget it. The child- 

 ren will become enthusiastic over the prospect 

 of taming the birds sufficiently to feed from the 

 hand. The construction of moving lunch-count- 

 ers, as suggested on page 94, may be made a 

 part of the manual-training work, as well as the 

 building of bird-houses. This kind of counter is 

 especially recommended to the children for its 

 conveniences, as being easily kept provided with 

 food, as being a partial protection against the 

 English sparrow, and as furnishing a means of 

 gradually taming the birds. 



Shelter. — And not only should the children 

 be encouraged to provide food, but some places 

 of shelter as well. The bird-houses intended for 



