Natural History as a Branch of Elementary Education. 105 



NATURAL HISTORY AS A BRANCH OF ELE- 

 MENTARY EDUCATION. 



I am persuaded that great good would result from making 

 the study of natural history one of the most elementary 

 branches of education. Children should be taught to see 

 carefully and minutely, and thus early learn to observe and 

 compare, a most important part of education. Their atten- 

 tion should be directed to the more common object.^ by which 

 they are surrounded. 



The chipping bird that pecks at crumbs in the yard, and 

 nests in the currant bush, what a warm, light and beautiful 

 feather-coat it wears, its wings are only a variety of hands 

 which enable it to fly where we cannot follow. See how it 

 hops, with one foot a little in advance of the other, in place 

 of running, or walking like the chickens. All birds that 

 perch on trees move by hops, when on the ground. 



The ant that labors so diligently in the garden — observe its 

 six feet, its pinchers to elip and cut its food, its antennae, by 

 means of which it makes its wants known to other ants. How 

 busily ihey are running up and down that tree. Watch and 

 we shall find that they have discovered the locality of their 

 cows (plant lice), and are in haste to sip the sweet fluid se- 

 creted by these curious insects. 



See the " pinch bug," that comes stumbling in at the open 

 window, attracted by the light. Observe its antennae ; how 

 curious its eyes, how large. All beetles have a beautiful box 

 fastened on their backs, in which are neatly packed their deli- 

 cate, transparent wings They elevate the two lids (wing 

 cases), and unfold the glacy wings, then they prepare to fly. 

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