"Olive said she used to put out grain and crumbs in winter for some kinds." "Some birds eat animal food and some seed food, while others eat both; but almost all birds feed their babies upon insects.

The nesting season is chiefly in spring, when all plants begin or renew their growth.
Spring is also the season when the eggs of many insects hatch out and when others come from the cocoons in which they have slept all winter.
"Then the farmer begins his annual war upon them, and day after day he fights the Battle of the Bugs.

But if he stops to think, and remembers that Heart of Nature has a use for everything, he will win this battle against the creeping, crawling, squirming regiments more easily.

For above him in the trees of his forest, in the hedgerows and bushes of his pasture and garden, on the rafters of his barn, even in the chimney of his house, live the birds, willing and eager to help him.

And all the wages they ask is permission to work for a living and protection from those of his fellowmen who covet the Oriole and Cardinal for their gay feathers and the Robin and Meadowlark for pot-pie." "Singing-bird pie is wicked.