856 Rural School Leaflet 



" Cats are the worst enemies of our common birds. Mr. Forbush 

 estimates that on the average a cat kills fifty song birds a year, and he has 

 known of a single cat destroying six bird's-nests in a day. In most States 

 the legislature has deemed it wise to pass laws imposing fines upon those 

 who kill birds. It is obviously absurd to fine a man for killing one bird 

 and at the same time allow him to keep a cat that kills fifty. In some 

 cities in Europe, where every effort is being made to protect the birds, 

 cats are considered public nuisances if allowed to run at large. People 

 who wish to have cats must confine them within their own premises, both 

 by day and night, because numerous cat traps are continually set for 

 strays. While not inaugurating a crusade against cats as pets, the lessons 

 in nature study may exert some influence toward inducing children to 

 observe what cats do and possibly to keep other pets so far as possible. 

 Special attention should be directed toward preventing cats from killing 

 birds; abundant feeding, keeping in at night during nesting time, and 

 possibly training, may prove effective in some cases. Bells worn about 

 the neck, as sometimes advocated, may save now and then an old bird, 

 but not the newly hatched nestlings or young birds that are not yet wary 

 or strong enough to fly." 



cows 



The cow was given for special study last year, but it has such an 

 important place in the world that it is again recommended by the State 

 Education Department for study in the rural schools this 3'ear. In the 

 Cornell Rural School Leaflet for September, 191 1, a series of articles was 

 given relating to dairy in terests. We are reprinting a few of the lessons that 

 will probably be most important for the use of teachers this year. The 

 other lessons can be obtained by any teacher to whom the September 

 leaflet of last year was not sent. The list of lessons that we have not 

 reprinted is as follows: "Why Milk Sours," "A Lesson in Milking," 

 " Clean Milk," " The Constituents of ]\Iilk," " The Babcock Test for 

 Butter-Fat in Milk," " Milk Records," and " Cottage Cheese Making." 



In the following lessons we have given m^ore material for the study of 

 cows than any teacher will take up in the classroom during the year. 

 The teacher should, however, have more knowledge of the subject than 

 is presented to the boys and girls, and from the m.aterial given he will 

 be able to select the lessons that will have the m.ost live interest for his 

 school. The work will find a more active response in the dairy sections 

 of the State. 



In presenting the lessons on dairying, a visit should be made to a dairy 

 farm, if possible. For this trip the teacher should prepare the pupils by 

 a classroom lesson on the things to be observed. Try to have the farmer 

 give a talk on his personal experience in dairying. 



