464 Home Nature-Study Course. 



and interesting thing to do; or the pupils may make their observations at liome. 

 Above all other lessons one should be enforced, and that is the training of kittens 

 when they are yoimg to leave birds alone. They should be punished every time 

 they are discovered watching birds; usually three punishments are sufficient to 

 teach a kitten, that even to look at a bird means danger. The editor has never 

 failed in training a cat to avoid birds when the lessons were administered early 

 enough in the creature's life. 



Lessons on this animal have been written np exliaustivel)', and it 

 seems superfluous to give them again ; we suggest the following refer- 

 ences: For a thorough lesson on the cat see: "Nature-Study and the 

 Child," Scott, p. 449. " How a Cat Walks," Jackman, pp. 136-137. 

 " Cat as Enemy of Birds," Nature-Study and Life, Hodges, pp. 41-312. 

 For supplementary reading see : " Cat Stories Retold," from the St. 

 Nicholas. For a delightful history of cats see " The Fireside Sphinx," 

 Repplier. " Familiar Animals and Their Wild Kindred," Montieth, 

 pp. 39-67. Book of Cats and Dogs, Johonnot. 



THE SWEET PEA. 



Children naturally love flowers and delight to pick them and play 

 with them. This feeling should be utilized as a means to qtiicken the 

 interest and sharpen the observation, and so lead the pupils to the knowl- 

 edge that the flower's color, form and fragrance are not alone for our 

 pleasure, but are of use to the flower in its work of perfecting seed. 



LESSON XXVL 



Prcluniiuiry JToi-k. — If bouquets of sweet peas are brought to the schoolroom 

 from the home garden or the school garden, there will be interesting stories from 

 the children about their planting and cultivation. Interest will be developed in 

 discussing the different colors and different varieties, and when the teacher deems 

 that the time is ripe for a lesson each child should have on his desk two or three 

 blossoms, so that each may read the story. 



THE SWEET PEA BLOSSOM. 



Purpose. — To lead the pupils to see the different parts of the flower 

 and the way it dusts bees with pollen, and where in the flower the seed 

 is developed. 



Observations: Color. — How many colors are found in the l)lossoms? 

 Is each blossom all the same color, or are some of the p.'tals colored 

 differently fmrn tlic others? Fonii: The petals of the flower have been 

 named from their position and form. The wide-spread and gayly-colored 

 upper petal is called the banner or standard ; the two at the sides are 



