I DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 76 



Physical Geography 1. Sub-Freshmen Women, 13 students (Kel- 

 ton). 



Total number of students for the year, 423, an increase of 22 over 

 last year. 



In addition to the work outlined above a few students have been given 

 instruction in methods of preparing and preserving biological material 

 for study, especially the mounting of slides for the microscope and a 

 little work in taxidermy. Such work is entirely voluntary' on the part 

 of the student and without credit on his course. The head of the de- 

 partment gave an illustrated lecture on birds at the annual meeting 

 of the State Horticultural Society at Benton Harbor, in December, and 

 has also given various talks, addresses and papers before schools, 

 teachers' associations, clubs and other organizations. 



In arranging the new course of study for the agricultural students 

 two of the suggestions embodied in my annual report of last year 

 (not printed) have been carried out in part, namely, the introduction of 

 physicial geography and the addition of laboratory and fieldwork to 

 the course in geology. The effectiveness of this latter course could be 

 still further improved, as suggested last year, by the addition of a 

 short course in blow-pipe analysis or determinative mineralogy such, 

 as is now given to the mechanical students. This would greatly en- 

 hance the value of the soil work given later in another department. 



The question has often been asked why the college does not give a 

 special course in ornithology in view of the fact that birds are recognized 

 as among the most important agents in restricting insect increase and 

 are universalh^ regarded as among the most beneficial of created things. 

 Particular point is given to this inquiry by the fact that during the past 

 half dozen years a tremendous awakening has taken place along the 

 lines of nature study, and bird clubs, Audubon societies and protective 

 organizations have been formed all over the United States for the 

 study, protection and encouragement of native birds. A required course 

 in ornithology seems impracticable at the present time without cutting 

 out some of the basic work now given, and this certainly is not advis- 

 able, but the new course will probably allow elective work along this 

 line for both agricultural and women students. 



Our distribution of collections of common Michigan insects to about 

 one hundred of the best schools of the state, last year and the year 

 before, has brought the department into correspondence with a large 

 number of high schools and we have been called upon with increasing 

 frequency to recommend text-books and collateral reading matter on 

 insects and other natural history topics. Perhaps no part of the ex- 

 tension work of this department is of more importance than this advis- 

 ory work in regard to the best guides in elementary science. These 

 requests for advice come not alone from our own graduates, but from 

 teachers trained in other schools, in the state and elsewhere, who are 

 desirous of getting the best information as to the practical study of 

 natural science. 



About eight years ago the Board authorized the preparation by the 

 Zoological department of a number of nesting boxes for birds of various 

 kinds, and in compliance with instructions forty or more such boxes 

 were prepared and placed in the best available positions about the cam- 

 pus with the expectation of attracting certain valuable birds especially 



