Teachers' Leaflet. ' 527 



object. It comes to us early in April and remains until November. It sings all 

 the time except during the moulting period, which occurs in August and Septem- 

 ber. The nest is built in a depression in the ground near a tuft of grass ; it is 

 built of coarse grass and sticks and lined with finer grass ; usually there is a dome 

 of grass blades woven above the nest and often a long covered vestibule leading 

 to the nest. This is evidently a protection from the keen eyes of hawks and crows. 

 The eggs are laid about the last of May and are usually from five to seven in 

 number; they are white speckled with brown and purple. The young larks are 

 usually large enough to be out of the way before haying time in July. 



LESSON III. 

 THE USES OF THE AIEADOWLARK TO THE FARMER. 



Purpose. — To acquaint the child with the value of this bird to the 

 agriculture of the State and to care for its protection. 



This' work should be in the form of an essay compiled from books, 

 especially the Government Reports. 



The food of the meadowlark for the entire year consists almost 

 entirely of insects, which destroy the grass of our meadows. It eats 

 great quantities of grasshoppers, cutworms, chinch bugs, army worms, 

 wire-worms, weevils and also destroys some weed seed. Have each 

 pupil make a diagram showing the proportions of the meadowlark's food. 

 (See Audubon Leaflet No. 3). Teach them that there is a law in New 

 York State that makes the killing of a meadowlark a punishable ofifense. 

 Use your influence to the tttmost to make the pupils understand that this 

 bird is our true friend and that we should encourage its presence in every 

 way possible. 



References : Audubon Educational Leaflet No. 3 ; " Bird Neigh- 

 bors," Blanchan ; " Birds of A^illage and Field," ]\Ierriam ; Farmers' 

 Bulletin No. 54, United States Department of Agriculture. Some com- 

 mon Birds in their Relation to Agriculture. 



LESSON IV. 



THE FLICKER. 



Purpose. — To teach the pupil to know the flicker by sight ; to interest 

 him to discover and study the individual habits of the bird. 

 Observations for the pupils: — Describe the color of the flicker as follows : 



Top of the head. 



Back of the neck. 



Throat and sides of the head. 



^Mustache, if present. 



Breast. 



Locket. 



Breast below the locket. 



