GRIFFIN] NATURE-STUDY IN A MUSEUM 59 



Among the subjects of other lessons thus given at the Museum 

 may be mentioned: "Seed Distribution," "Dry and Fleshy 

 Fruits," "Goldenrods and Asters," "Preparation of Trees for 

 Winter," "Defensive Organs of Plants," "Frogs and Toads," 

 "Tree Buds," and "Germination of Seeds." 



In order that the interest which children have in the 

 various forms of nature-study shall be developed to the fullest 

 extent, it is necessary that teachers should be alive to the value 

 of the work and should have a certain degree of knowledge re- 

 garding it. Therefore, teachers' classes are held for a portion of 

 each year. These are conducted by the director who presents 

 plans for lessons in the schools, gives subject-matter and methods 

 of teaching, and places at the disposal of teachers the latest 

 books and magazines treating of science and nature-study. 

 Although attendance at these lectures is voluntary it is rarely 

 that a teacher misses a meeting, and the interest is keen. 



For ten weeks during the spring and early summer, bird walks 

 are conducted in the following manner: From the middle of 

 April to the end of June, groups of children, about a dozen in 

 number, meet at the Museum steps at seven o'clock in the morn- 

 ing. They are at the school-building ready for school at nine, 

 and meanwhile have tramped from one to two miles in finding 

 the spring birds. Anywhere from fifteen to forty birds may be 

 seen and heard, according to weather conditions. Some member 

 of the Museum stafl^ accompanies each expedition, and every 

 child is given an opportunity to go about four times a season. 

 Frequently, children come to the Museum during the day to 

 examine closel}^ a bird that could not be seen well during the 

 morning tramp, and their interest is increased by a small case 

 placed in a prominent position near the entrance door and con- 

 taining the newest bird arrivals. Only thirty-five specimens 

 are allowed in the case at once, and both children and adults who 

 are studying birds for the first time find it far easier to identify a 

 perplexing bird visitor from this case than from the larger general 

 collection. 



An interesting outgrowth of the bird walks is the Junior 

 Audubon Society which meets at the Museum once a month, 

 from January to June, in two divisions. Each section has its 

 child officers, who preside, read reports, make motions, present a 

 literary program, and in every way carry on the business of a 

 society with much dignity and solemnity. 



