Page:Bird-lore Vol 06.djvu/260

 for 19011115: @bgerbew

Edited by T. GILBERT PEARSON nus 1m |liis Drpnlllnent m the Iidiim. :u (irev'nslmru. N, t

PERSON who has never fed the wild birds has tnissed a pleasure

which can come in no Other way. It is such a joy to give happiness

to nature's untamed creatures that any one who can do so is the loser if he does not avail himself of the opportunity. in winter this can be done, probably, in no better way than by providing them with food when the natural store is low.

After the frosty nights of autumn have destroyed or put to sleep the great hordes of insect life in the ﬁelds and woods, and the snows have come and covered the seeds of the grasses and of all but the tallest weeds, there are many little hungry mouths in the land. The difﬁculty of ﬁnding sufﬁ- cient food is often increased by the numbing eﬁect of the fierce gales which sweep through the forests or the chilling damp from a biting sleet. These are the times of all others when food should be placed where the birds can reach it. Usually they will Show their hearty appreciation by eating liberally of the supply.

On another page Mrs. Wright suggests some of the methods she has employed in feeding birds. There are so many ways of doing the satne thing. however, that it would be helpful to learn how some of our Young Observers feed the birds. It would also be interesting to know the names of the feathered guests who Come to the banquet spread for them.

We should. therefore. like to publish in the next number of BIRD-Lone

some experiences of persons who have given food to wild birds in winter and watched them while feeding.

Three prizes are oﬁered to the boys and girls of fourteen years or under. who send the best letter of three hundred to four hundred words on ' Feed- ing Birds in Wintert' The prizes will be a bird book or books to the value of $2.50 for the ﬁrst prize. $2 for the second prize. and $1.50 for the third prize.

The letters should be sent to the Editor of this department. at Greens» boro. North Carolina. not later than January 1. 1905. in order that the prize-winners may be announced in February BlRl)-LORE.—T. G. P.

Address all iuuumlnir:

A Birds’ Christmas Tree

By ELVA L. BASCOM

ERHAPS readers of BIRDeLORE will be interested in hearing oi a

birds' Christmas tree that added to the holiday pleasure of a house» hold, as well as to that of its bird neighbors. The charming idea was carried out last Christmas by a family living just outside Poughlteepsie.

(2:5)