162 METHODS OP ATTRACTING BIRDS 



eral effect of the sparrows is to drive other birds 

 away, for they congregate in flocks even when 

 they are not feeding. Some suggestions as to how 

 this difficulty may be partly met in the construc- 

 tion and location of the counters have been given 

 in Chapter iii, but of course the children should 

 not attempt the methods of poisoning or trap- 

 ping explained there. This should be left for 

 adults. 



While the two methods of attracting birds dis- 

 cussed in this chapter are the ones best adapted for 

 school use, something may also be done in the 

 line of encouraging the children to provide drink- 

 ing-f ountains and of instructing them how to make 

 the fountains. The planting of trees and shrubs 

 requires so long before the returns come in, that 

 this method of attracting the birds will not ap- 

 peal strongly to the children, but they may be 

 encouraged to plant a row of hemp, Japanese 

 millet, or sunflowers, to attract the goldfinches, 

 and to furnish a supply for the winter lunch- 

 table. 



Bird-fountain in a School-yard. — In some 

 cases it may be practicable to construct a bird- 

 fountain in the school-yard, which may thus pro- 

 vide an opportunity for the children to study the 

 habits of the birds which visit it, and may furnish 



