204 BULLETIN UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA 



How to Study a Bird. 



NATURE-STUDY LESSON. 



Perley Milton Silloway. 



The prime object of nature-study is the training of the powers of 

 observation in such a manner that they shall minister to the higher in- 

 tellectual faculties. It is not an end, but a means, whereby the observer 

 obtains a stronger grasp upon the larger relations of life. Nature-study 

 does not consider the probable destiny of the pupil as a botanist or a 

 zoologist, but as a student of life in any or all of its relations, assuming 

 that all Nature is simply environment which is to react upon the mind 

 and develop its noblest faculties. Life is everywhere about us, and na- 

 ture-study aims to teach anyone to see, hear, and appreciate that life, 

 whether manifested in animal or plant. Hence the essential method of 

 studying a bird is to cause anyone to see, hear, and appreciate the bird, 

 and to consider its relationships as a part of the vast domain of Nature. 



The primary step in the study of a bird is identification. The bird 

 must be recognized, and to make recognition successful the object must 

 be seen under circumstances which admit of definite observation. If the 

 iDird is a new one, a rapid inventory of the essential features of its descrip- 

 tion must be taken, and a fair idea gained of its size, form, color, and 

 markings. The idea of size may be comparative, as somewhat larger 

 than a chipping sparrow and smaller than a robin, or about as large as a 

 pigeon. Attention must be given to the bird's form, or the general out- 

 line of the body. It may have elongated neck and short legs, like the 

 geese; it may have both long neck and long legs, like the herons and 

 cranes; it may be rather stoutly built, like most of the sparrows; or it 

 may have a comparatively large head, like the flycatchers. 



The prevailing colors must be noted, as general color of the upper 

 parts, lower parts, head, wings, and tail. Then any striking markings 

 should be carefully observed, as these markings are generally the quick- 

 est and surest means of identification. For instance, suppose we see a 

 iDird of black plumage, somewhat smaller than the robin, rather stoutly 

 built, with prominent white bar on the wing. Upon reference to our 

 l3ook of descriptions, we learn that our new acquaintance is the lark bunt- 

 ing. Suppose we meet a. blackbird, somewhat larger than our common 

 friend of the feed-lot, with prominent yellow and white markings; we 

 easily learn that our new friend is the yellow-headed blackbird. All 

 these features in the foregoing descriptions should be promptly jotted 

 down in a note-book, to be used when a key can be consulted. 



The actions of the bird at the time of observation are especially im- 

 portant, for they often serve as a key to the family or group to which 

 the bird under observation belongs. There are peculiar characteristics 



