Rural School Leaflet 



723 



of you would try to find some book on birds, either in the school library 

 or in yoiir homes, and read the descriptions of the birds you are to study 

 this year. It will help you in identi- 

 fying some that are unfamiliar to you. 

 Build a bird house. In the illustra- 

 tion you will see one kind. The birds 

 will like it as well as a very handsome 

 one. They do not approve of fresh paint, 

 and the birds that will build their nests 

 in houses will not care for one in which 

 the doors are too large. 



Things to remember in constructing 

 bird houses. — The houses should be 

 built on poles or buildings in somewhat 

 secluded places, and the majority of 

 birds prefer a house not more than 

 twelve feet from the ground. The size 

 of the doorway is important. For the 

 wren and the chickadee the opening 

 should be an inch auger hole, and 

 for the other birds that build in houses 

 it should be one and one-half inches. 

 Some birds, such as the martins, tree 

 swallows, and pigeons, like to live near one another. For these birds a 

 little apartment house may be made, allowing floor space six by six inches 

 for each pair. There should be but one door to each compartment. Be 

 sure to build a bird house and have it in place by next February. 

 Are you interested in the weather? In the sky by day or night? In 

 sunlight and in wondering about your shadow as it stays with you while 

 the world is light ? In the teachers' Leaflet for September there is a lesson 

 on storms. Ask yoin- teacher to help you to understand what is happening 



in cloudland when the storms come. I think the 

 study of weather is best of all. I hope that 

 while you are out studying the weather you will 

 begin to wonder about the sky and the hills, the 

 rivers and the far-away mountains, the mystery 

 of the far-away starlight. As soon as you begin 

 to wonder, you will begin to ask questions and to 

 find out something about the outdoor things that 

 have a never-ending interest for thoughtful boys 

 and girls. 



We want you to learn to be in tune with the weather. The strong 

 people of the world have loved the rain as well as the sunshine ; they have 



The downy woodpecker 



A bird house 



