stebbins NATURE-STUDY IN CAMP 141 



A girl in one camp on the first trip loudly declaimed against 

 Nature-Study, she'd "taken Nature-Study and didn't like it!" 

 Later she was a devoted student. Another girl had bird-glasses, 

 a little knowledge and more enthusiasm for birds and wanted 

 to study birds, and birds only, "did n't want to study rocks!!" 

 but after a trip on which she learned to recognize quartz, mica 

 and hornblend, and saw some glacial evidences she wanted to 

 "crack" every rock in sight. 



A list of subjects is bare and uninteresting to the uninitiated so 

 it> seems best to discuss a few phases and methods somewhat in 

 detail. 



The stocking and maintaining of a balanced aquarium is always 

 a delightful project and extremely illuminating. 



First comes the purchase or making of the aquarium. It is 

 well to have several, not too large, but of several sizes and shapes, 

 but of clear glass with plane sides. Several books give directions 

 for construction, cement, etc. so we omit these details here. 



But our concern is with the living things to be introduced and 

 kept in good condition. This supposes, first, either previous ob- 

 servations, or a trip or trips, to decide upon conditions needed, 

 what to put in the bottom of the case — pebbles, gravel, . sand, 

 "mud" — the choice depending on what animals and plants we 

 wish. 



Shall one put in the plants or the animals first? There might 

 be discussion now and confirmation might follow the results of the 

 experiments. 



Hew many, and what, plants can we find in water with a locky 

 or pebbly bottom, in water with a sandy or muddy bottom? 

 Which of these grow entirely under water, which float on or be- 

 low the surface, which are simply rooted below but have leaves 

 and flowers entirely in the air? How do the leaves and stems of 

 these differ? Why do they differ? Which of these do we wish 

 in our aquarium ? Which will be of any use to the animals and of 

 what use are they ? Which would add to the beauty of the aquar- 

 ium and make it look more like a bit of the real pond, or of the 

 sea-shore? How shall we make them "stay where they^belong ?" 

 Will they grow better if rooted or floating? 



These questions are answered of Mother Nature's ways of doing 

 things. In other words the children are directly and consciously 

 seeking answers to questions they wish answered. 



