37+ 



THE GUIDE TO NATURE 



These observations tend to disap- 

 prove any general idea that on rainy 

 days all the birds of forest and field, 

 are huddled in protected spots. Put 

 on clothing appropriate for a rainy 

 day, and make a visit to Birdland ; 

 you will, perhaps, learn new things. 



Many times have I heard the Belted 

 Kingfisher shaking his rattle, but never 

 so continuously as on a rainy day. The 

 Sandpiper, as he "teeters" from stone 

 to stone, seems likewise to know that 

 rain is best for fishing. 



Some birds are seemingly uncon- 

 scious of "bad" weather. The swamp 

 Sparrow sings as lustily in the rain 

 as did the Song Sparrow ; the Star- 

 ling's whistle is still heard with the 

 storm. The larger birds of the Fal- 

 con tribe, are more often seen in rough 

 Weather than at other seasons. If we 

 observe at the sea-shore, or near the 

 larger bodies of inland waters we shall 

 find birds fairly enjoying the wet days. 



Some birds seem to wish that rain 



was never sent, but, like the Catbird 

 appear to be unable to find protec- 

 tion. With dejected looks the Ruby- 

 crowned Field Sparrows still hunt their 

 food. The usually undaunted English 

 Sparrows are forced to utter only half 

 chirps, and frequently to huddle in for- 

 lorn looking groups. 



"When the swallows fly low, expect 

 rain," is a popular saying containing 

 much truth ; for we are told that the air, 

 just before a storm is so heavy with 

 moisture that the small insects, which 

 the birds feed upon, are unable to rise 

 high, thus making it necessary for 

 Swallows and Swifts at such times to 

 fly low. 



We need to remember that all the 

 wonders of a storm are not in the 

 clouds ; in the rain-drops, or even in the 

 multihued sky following the rain ; that 

 the woods-folk are then often abroad 

 in most interesting fashion. There are 

 more rainy-day birds then we have 

 mentioned ; "Seek and ye shall find." 



IlTERARY^ l ai ca 



f-^AND BIOGRAPHICAL. 



Guiding Voices. By Sarah A. Jenison. Dee- 

 orated by Emma M. Moseley. Grand 

 Rapids, Michigan: Seymour & Muir. 

 This is a dainty rhapsody of a maple seed 

 with other objects in nature that minis- 

 tered to the seed in fanciful relations. 



Bird-Lore for February publishes some 

 startling figures in relation to the de- 

 struction of birds for millinery purposes. 

 According to Consular Reports over 1,500,- 

 000 white herons were killed for their aig- 

 rettes' in a single year in Venezuela, while 

 253,000 pairs of wings have just been found 

 in the possession of the Japanese Poachers 

 arrested in the Hawaiian group. 



Ciimming's Nature Study for Lower Gram- 

 mar Grades. By Horace H. Cummings, B. 

 S., formerly Supervisor of Nature Study, 

 State Normal School, University of Utah. 

 New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago: Amer- 

 ican Book Company. 



Earth, air, water, fire, plants, animals, 

 birds, insects, minerals, and many other sub- 

 jects, are interestingly and heipfully dis- 

 cussed; so that the pupil gains an intimate 

 understanding and appreciation of the world 

 of nature. By means of the simple illus- 



trations, directions, and experiments under 

 the guidance of the teacher, the abstract 

 consideration of a subject is immediately 

 made concrete, and its' connection with the 

 practical activities of life established. 



The American Annual of Photography, 1910. 



Volume XXIV. Edited by John A. Ten- 



nant. New York City: George Murphy, 



Inc., Sales Agent, 57 East Main street. 



Paper cover 75c, postage 15c; cloth bound 



$1.25, postage 20c, 



This magnificent volume contains over 

 two hundred fine illustrations, reproducing 

 the work of well known photographers. 

 There are thirty-two pages in colors. 



Every one who uses a camera in artistic 

 work (not merely to "snap" souvenirs of 

 "dog on doorstep" or "Johnny in his first 

 trousers") will be sure to get a copy of this 

 Annual. And then perhaps the dog and the 

 boy will not be lost in the indefiniteness 

 of under exposure but in a hazy fog, and that 

 will not be called an imperfection but high 

 art! 



But, seriously, the pictures of this afore- 

 said book are not all impressionistic, but 

 contain many really good and clear photo- 

 graphs well worth the price of the book. 



