io8 Junior Naturalist Work. 



90; Tracks, 295; Evergreen, 51 ; Snow Flakes, 160; Home Making, 

 90; Pigeons, 87; Cocoons, 449; Mice, 660; Corn, 1,132; Toads, 329; 

 Bluejay, 437; Cats, 165 ; Hammock, 50. 



In the final issue of the Junior Naturalist Monthly a plan suggest- 

 ing summer study relating to country life was published. Prizes 

 were offered for the best compositions on these subjects. Following 

 are a few of the letters that will illustrate observation along these 

 lines : 



I. Price offered for the best letter on birds. 



"Dear Uncle John : 



" Last term our teacher started a Junior Naturalist Club and the last 

 little paper I got there was offered prizes for the best composition on out- 

 door life. 



" I have tried the best I could to write, I hope I will get a book. This is 

 the first time I ever wrote to the Junior Naturalist Club. 



" The History of Two Families of Birds in Our Orchard. 



" In our orchard there is an old apple tree. The tree has been there 

 about 25 years and blossoms about the middle of May. The blossoms are 

 quite pink. The apples are good when they are ripe. 



" This summer a family of robins built in this tree and also up in tlie 

 other end of the orchard the family of black-birds built their nest. They 

 went up to the very top up in the thick branches and built a nest of sticks 

 and straws. 



"The robins built their nest about 12 inches from the ground, in the 

 crotch of the tree. 



" The old birds brought straw and dry grass and strings. It took them 

 about two days to do this, then the mother bird lined it witli sofc, dry grass 

 and a fcv^r fcatlicrs. In about 5 days after I first saw them start to l)uild 

 the nest there was one egg in the nest. In three days there was three eggs 

 in it. 



" Then the mother bird began to set. She set abiut nine days and then 

 there was one babj^ robin in it. The old ones fed it and worked to get enough 

 for them and their baby bird. The other two eggs did not hatch and I took 

 them out of the nest. 



" One day I came home from school and found tlie baby bird had grown 

 too big for the nest and had to sit on the edge of it. 



" But meanwhile the other family of birds had hatched and the black- 

 birds tried to get the little baby robin away from its parents. 



" One night I was washing dishes and heard such a noise out in the orchard 

 I ran out to see wliat it was. When I got there one of the black-birds 

 had the little baby rol)in in its mouth and was flying away with it. I picked 

 up a stone and threw it at it anrl hit it on the wing but it did not drop it 

 so 1 had to let it go. 



" I really think that the black-birds ought to be banished to the woods 



