386 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



auy case, neither birds nor ourselves 

 can sustain life upon drink. Eut in 

 many places and by many people bird 

 troughs are erected in winter and 

 supphed with food, and it would be 

 well if all our readers would try and 

 help the little birds in the same way. 

 AYhat can be more pitiful than to pick 

 u]) a dead thrush or other songster 

 whose strains had dehghted our ears 

 in the golden days of summer, and see 

 that the poor thing had been starved 

 or frozen to death. Who is there that 

 would not take in a weakly bird and 

 try with waroith and nourishment to 

 restore its failing strength ? But how 

 much easier to prevent it starving than 

 to restore it after it is starved. A bird 

 trough is but a simple affair. The 

 pole of a disused bird-box will do, with 

 a wooden tray or box attached. It is 

 better if a cover can be affixed, so that 

 it is protected from snow. Anything 

 of this kind will answer, and we scarce- 

 ly need enlarge upon it, as all that is 

 wanted is a receptacle in which the 

 food can be placed, so contrived that 

 birds can alight to feed. One should 

 be put up a few feet from the ground 

 for the convenience of those birds that 

 frequent trees and hedges, and another 

 should be placed upon the ground, 

 similarly protected from the weather. 

 In these receptacles the bread crumbs 

 and sweepings should be placed, a few 

 bones will be greatly esteemed, a few 

 cold potatoes or other vegetables — in 



short, almost anything that we can eat 

 will be gladly received by the birds; 

 and if we only give them what would 

 otherwise be thrown away, we will 

 doubtless save the life of many a 

 feathered songster daring the inclem- 

 ency of the coming winter. While we 

 are thus administering to their neces- 

 sities there will be many an opportunity 

 for making observations as to their 

 habits that would not otherwise be 

 afforded us. These should be taken 

 advantage of, aiid we will be glad to 

 find space for any notes our readers 

 like to send us. Even a list of the 

 birds that frequent the troughs would 

 be worth printing. It is astonishing 

 how soon birds learn to come to be 

 fed during wdnter. If regularity be 

 observed in replenishing the supply of 

 food, the birds will assemble with 

 equal regularity and wait patiently for 

 their meal. We always enjoyed to see 

 the small birds assemble in this way, 

 and felt sorry when the return of spring 

 enabled them to provide for themselves, 

 and they ceased to visit us, as though 

 they would only trouble us while un- 

 able to keep themselves. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



All commumcations to be sent to J. E. Eobson, 15 

 Northgate, Hartlepool; or to S. L. MosLEY Beau- 

 mont Parkj Huddersfield. 



Subscriptions for Vol. III. are now past 



due, and we will be glad to have remit- 

 tance from those who have not yet sent 

 them. Weekly numbers or monthly parts, 



