i 4 6 THE . \ A TL 'RE- STUDY RE VIE IV { 2 . 4 _ A P R , L| , gob 



That the interest and active work often continues after the pupil 

 leaves the fifth grade is shown by the collection of old nests, eggs 

 and other interesting materials brought in by former pupils of this 

 grade. A few years ago, at the suggestion of some of the enthusias- 

 tic pupils, a Nature Club was formed in order that the work begun 

 in the fifth grade might be continued. The club at present has twenty 

 members from the high school and upper grammar grades. The 

 meetings are held twice a month and many very good papers written 

 by the members have been read and discussed. The class-rooms and 

 specimens at the Museum of Natural History have been kindly opened 

 to the Club, and much interesting and profitable work has been done 

 there. Every applicant for membership must write an original paper 

 showing some knowledge of birds. That the Club has a waiting list 

 of nearly one dozen children testifies to the continued interest in this 

 study. 



The bird work offers excellent opportunity for correlation with 

 art, language, and literature. Selections from John Burroughs, Wm. 

 J. Long, and Florence Merriam have been used in the reading lessons 

 (not as nature-study). The following poems have been found help- 

 ful, many of them having been memorized by the class: Bryant's 

 "Robert of Lincoln;" Thaxter's " Robin" and "Sandpiper;" 

 Drake's " Mocking-bird's Song;" Carey's " Blackbird;" Coolidge's 

 " Discontent;" Longfellow's " Birds of Killingworth " and " Birds 

 of Passage;" Holland's" Life in the Nest;" Lowell's " The Nest;" 

 Larcom's " Brown Thrush," " The Snow Bird," " Birds with Bosom 

 Red;" Van Dyke's " Veery," " Song Sparrow," " Maryland Yellow 

 Throat," " Whip-poor-will." 



The following reference books are recommended, those with a star 

 being particularly pleasing and valuable for children: Weed and 

 Dearborn's " Birds in their Relation to Man;" Chapman's " Birds 

 of Eastern North America;" *Chapman's " Bird Life;" *Dugmore"s 

 " Bird Homes;" Blanchan's " How to Attract the Birds;" Apgar's 

 " Birds of the United States;" *OHve Thorn Miller's " First Book 

 of Birds" and her "Second Book of Birds;" *Weed's "Bird Life 

 Stories." 



Many very helpful bulletins are issued by the Department of Agri- 

 culture. The following have been successfully used by the pupils: 

 ■ lour Common Birds;" " Blue Jay and its Food;" "Meadow-lark 

 and Baltimore Oriole;" "Birds as Weed Destroyers;" "Food of 

 Nestling Birds." 



