Floweret bulbs nestled together, 

 Doze all through the wintry weathar 

 'Neath the snow. 



In the chrysalis hard by, 

 Dreams the sometime butterfly. 

 In corner hid." 



We shall be patient and not disturb their shimbers, you and I, 

 for if we should they might not be sociable. I learned this once 

 when, digging deep into the earth, I came across an old toad. 

 Months before he had backed down to a place which he thought 

 would make a warm bed. Such a sleepy old fellow as he was! Do 

 you think he would tell me his history ? Why, I could not coax 

 him to show the least interest in life. I could hardly be sure that 

 his usual smile was there. For this reason I think we shall wait for 

 Mother Nature to arouse all our old favorites, and in the meantime 

 there is something you can study that will please me very much. 



I want you to look for some forsaken birds' nests which I am 

 sure many of you pass on your way to school. You will be sur- 

 prised to discover how many things can be learned from one of these 

 tiny homes. It will tell you how hard the mother and father bird 

 worked to make a substantial dwelling place for their children. 

 Notice the material used in its construction. Where did the little 

 creatures find it all ? How long do you think it took them to build 

 it ? Ah, you were not naturalists last year, perhaps, so you cannot 

 answer these questions. Those sweet-voiced friends of ours, now 

 swinging on leafy bows in southern lands, would be very much 

 surprised if they could only know how eagerly they will be 

 watched next spring by our boys and girls. No harm will come 

 to the little architects and builders because of this interest on your 

 part, I know, for real naturalists are never cruel or thoughtless. 



Remember, while preparing this lesson, that nests are not alwaj^s 

 built high up in the trees. Robin Redbreast may prefer such a 

 location, but many seem to like better a more lowly dwelling place. 



Uncle John will be very much pleased if each Junior Naturalist 

 succeeds in finding a deserted bird's nest. He will want to hear all 

 that you can tell him about it, particularly the size, shape, material 

 of which it is made, and where it was found. 



ALICE G. McCLOSKEY, 

 JNO. W. SPENCER. 



601 



