32 



THE GUIDE TO NATURE. 



the snakes were killed and I was told 

 that I had better not catch any more 

 because it was dangerous. Having the 

 right idea of catching snakes alive and 

 not being afraid of them, I continued 

 to catch them and finally my parents 

 gave up the idea of interfering. I 

 have at times gone on a nature trip 

 without a snake bag and have cap- 

 tured black racers five feet long and 

 carried them in my hands for two and 

 three miles before reaching home. As 

 I studied deeper into the snake family 

 I learned that the banded rattlesnake 

 will usually give us warning by 

 shaking his rattles when we are near 

 him. It is safe for people to roam the 

 woods of Essex County. I go into the 

 fields and forests with a field glass and 

 notebook and at the end of each year 

 I have several interesting notes of true 

 facts of nature. This is the only way 

 to obtain the truth. 



I have delved deep into nature study 

 and have received many encomiums 

 from scientific men which I highly 

 appreciate. At present I am conduct- 

 ing a "Nature Experiment Station," 

 the only one of its kind in Essex 

 County, in which I learn many in- 

 teresting points regarding insects and 

 reptiles. I would advise all who can 

 to lake as many nature walks as possi- 

 ble at all seasons of the year. Such 

 walks will give health and scientific 

 knowledge. 



During my early school days I also 

 became interested in the fur bearing 

 animals, birds and reptiles of Essex 

 County and have studied them during 

 every season of the year. When I 

 see squirrels stripping off cedar bark 

 1 follow them and bv doing so I learn 

 whether that species of squirrel builds 

 in the ground or in a tree and also 

 what kind of a tree and the location. 

 These observations also give me cor- 

 rectly the time of year when squirrels 

 build their nests and also the kind of 

 material used by each species. When- 

 ever I see a fur bearing animal or a 

 bird walking in the snow I always 

 study the tracks and by learning the 

 different tracks get an idea what birds 

 and animals are seen in the locality. 

 I have seen all the fur bearing animals 

 in Essex County and have studied 

 their habits. 



I watch the birds every year. I have 

 seen a redstart place the first mouthful 

 of nesting material in a fork of a tree. 

 Naturalists are seldom lucky enough 

 to see a bird begin her nest. I have 

 witnessed it only once. When we see 

 things of that kind it always makes us 

 more anxious to make other observa- 

 tions of a similar nature. I have seen 

 birds destroy hundreds of injurious 

 insects in my locality and the feathered 

 tribe needs all the protection it can 

 get for it helps greatly to save our or- 

 chards and forests. 





AGASSIZ ASSOCIATION 



Personal Explanatory Note: — Only the adult interests in nature and the business 

 details of organizing Chapters are represented by this department. Original observa- 

 tions and inquiries from young folks (under eighteen years of age) are referred to my 

 department ("Nature and Science") in the "St. Nicholas" magazine, published by The 

 Century Company, New York City. — Edward F. Bigelow. 



Some Recent Chapters. 



St. John's Hoys' Club Chapter, 

 Stamford, Connecticut. Officers: E. 

 Buchanan, president ; C. Cohen, vice- 

 president; T. .Mathews, recording sec- 



retary; W. Means, corresponding sec- 

 retary; J. Lenord, treasurer. Twenty 

 members. 



Glenbrook Chapter, Glenbrook, Con- 

 necticut. Officers: C. Lawrence, pres- 



