336 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



all unsanitary conditions such as piles of stable manure and other filth 

 where flies breed, and stagnant pools harboring mosquito larvae. An 

 accompanying explanation indicates the remedial work to be done in 

 order to make the region a sanitary place of residence. 



The nature map may be made the basis for a knowledge of economics, 

 by showing: (1) the gardens and the value of their products; (2) the 

 utility of common garden animals — like the toad, lizard, and spider — 

 who eat destructive insects; (3) the proper development of the unused 

 ground. 



At the general annual exhibition of nature-play, prizes are offered 

 for the best nature map, poster, drawing and photograph, and this recog- 

 nition of their work encourages the pupils to sketch and photograph 

 from nature. 



The collecting instinct of children should be stimulated and directed 

 toward the gathering of insects, rather than birds' eggs, of feathers, 

 flowers, leaves, rocks, soils and other objects which do not rob nature of 

 things beneficial to man. In this manner, each school-room may build 

 up a useful museum of natural history. To promote the zeal of the 

 young naturalists a nature club is organized in each school. A congress 

 of these clubs is held every month, when the Director gives an illustrated 

 lecture upon some topic of current interest. Agassiz's advice, to " study 

 nature, not books/' is important above all things, and yet it must be 

 recognized that a knowledge of the records of the observations and inves- 

 tigations of others makes it possible to see and understand nature more 

 clearly. It is useful to have a library in each room, with books and 

 pictures concerning natural history. 



The chief thing is to bring the child in contact with nature, and to 

 give him the pleasure and stimulus of original discovery. It is desirable 

 to have excursions into the yard, garden, field and forest whenever possi- 

 ble. While the class may not visit other countries and thus become fa- 

 miliar with foreign animals and plants in their native environment, yet 

 good zoological parks and botanical gardens offer an excellent, although 

 limited, substitute. After learning of the cat, at school and at home, the 

 pupil may profitably see the large cats, like the lion and tiger, in the 

 zoo, or in the wandering menageries. Almost every child has been to the 

 circus and experienced one of the best possible nature excursions. The 

 giraffe, camel and elephant have been so carefully observed that the 

 pupils are able to sketch them. The child should learn why the giraffe 

 has a long neck and spots on his brown fur, how the camel stores up food 

 in his humps and water in the sacs around his first two stomachs, of the 

 varied uses of the remarkable trunk of the elephant and of the animal's 

 high intelligence. 



In order to thoroughly understand things that live to-day, the history 

 of the transformation of their race upon the earth must be followed. 



