OBJECTIVK SHASONAf. I.KSSONS. 5 



l)()(jk. Tlic hird's iiainc is entered at the left side (jf 

 the pane the date at the to]), and tlie I'ecoi'd Utv tlie 

 day is phieed in the sipiai-c opposite tlie bii-d's iianic 

 and below tiie date. It may consist sinij)ly (jf a 

 clieck oi- niai'k indicatint^- that the s])ecies was seen, 

 hut ])relei'al)ly should «ii\'e the approximate num- 

 i)er of individuals observed ; Avhether the s})ecies was 

 heard singing; wliether observed in flocks; and any 

 other information which can be easily and intelli- 

 gibly abbreviated. 



A journal should be ke[)t in which to write a 

 more detailed account of the day's experiences. 

 These may also form the subject of compositions, 

 and the chiss-room woik should now include com- 

 ])arison and discussion of observations made in the 

 field. Compositions may also be written on cer- 

 tain species, Avhen the outline of a bird's biogra- 

 ])hy, given on ])age To, will fui'iiish suggestions 

 as to th(^ heads under whicli the subject mav be 

 treated. 



Later, the ])hih)sophic oi* subjective side of bird- 

 study may be considered, and compositions written 

 cm structui'e and habit, color, migration, nesting, 

 etc. 



As a definite guide to seasonal bii-d-studies in the 

 mi«hlle Eastern States, the following outline of the 

 bird -life of a year is given. It is based on observa- 

 tions made in the vicinity (-f New ^'oi-k citv. and 

 incbid<'s all the land -hirds and the commonei" watei'- 

 l»ii-ds inhabitini:- this i-egioii. It m.-iy be pi-efaced hv 

 a definition of the four groups i?i which our birds 

 are ])hic(Hl, according to the manner of their occur- 

 rence (see page 53), as follows: 



