THE BIRDS OF NEW JERSEY. 13 



of birds, but also to the general public, who would soon 

 appreciate the loss if the common songsters were exter- 

 minated. 



It is time to give more intelligent attention to the birds 

 and appreciate their value. Many schools already have 

 courses in natural history or nature study and such a 

 day would add zest to the regular studies, encourage the 

 pupils to observe carefully, and give them something to 

 look forward to and work for. In the words of the or- 

 iginator of the day, "the general ol)servance of a Bird 

 Day in our schools would probably do more to open thou- 

 sands of young minds to the reception of bird lore than 

 anything else that can de devised." The first thing is to 

 interest the scholars in birds in general and particularly 

 in those of their own locality. Good lists of birds have 

 been prepared for several of the States, and popular books 

 and articles on ornithology are within the reach of every 

 one. But the instruction should not be limited to books; 

 the children should be encouraged to observe the birds in 

 the field, to study their habits and migrations, their nests 

 and food, and should be taught to respect the laws pro- 

 tecting game and song birds. 



VALUE OF BIRD DAY. 



When the question of introducing Arbor Day into the 

 schools was brought before the National Educational As- 

 sociation in February, 1S84, the objection was made that 

 the subject was out of place in the schools. The value of 

 the innovation could not be appreciated by those who did 

 not see the j^ractical bearing of the subject on an ordinary 

 school course. But at the next meeting of the Associa- 

 tion the question was again brought up and unanimously 

 adopted — to the mutual benefit of the schools and of prac- 

 tical forestry. With the advent of more progressive ideas 

 concerning education there is a demand for instruction in 

 subjects which a few years ago would have been con- 



