42 NEBRASKA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION 



none make use of it as they might. Other natural objects are uyecl 

 in description, birds not. How strikingly does Booth Tarkington's "A 

 woodpecker's telegraj)h3^ broke the quiet like a volley of pistol shots," 

 emphasize the silence, and how effectiA'e in manj^ places might be 

 made a reference to the appeara,nce of a bird or to its song. In the 

 "Redemption of David Corson" the author refers in a very efPective 

 manner to birds, using them forty-six times and including twenty-nine 

 species, while his descriptions are many of them very good, esx^ecially 

 one of the song of the Catbird. Yet this book stands alone; in other 

 recent fiction references to birds are few^, and in "David Harum" not 

 a single one appears. That readers appreciate such is evidenced by 

 the rapidly increasing populai'ity of "nature books." 



The average person when in the country notices flowers more than 

 birds, and this is not because of lack of interest in all things beautiful 

 and attractive, but because of lack of education in that particular 

 direction. It is hard to arovise the interest of an adult in new subjects, 

 while children eagerly grasp new ideas, and seize with avidity on new 

 objects of interest. At the same time their ramblings in woods and 

 fields bring them frequently in contact with birds. 



In the writer's own teaching she finds the use of birds most effective 

 in aiding her to reach the hearts and minds of the children. She talks 

 to them ten minutes each day about birds and nature and frequently 

 the presence of a bird outside the schoolroom window or the sound 

 of its song is made use of to arouse the imagination of the pupil and 

 add to his interest in his work. Their interest once aroused, the 

 children soon learn to love the birds and are easily enlisted in the 

 cause of bird protection. 



One object of this Union is the fostering of the cause of bird protec- 

 tion. This can best be attained by laying hold of the children; but 

 they must be reached through the teachers, who are often indifferent 

 and who, being usually women, are unable to study birds with the 

 freedom enjoyed by the men. We must seek to interest these teachers 

 and, having aroused their interest, to furnish them with such oppor- 

 tunities that their interest Avill not flag. 



TEN YEARS WITHOUT A GUN 



WILSON TOUT, DUNBAR 



A school teacher should be very careful in his habits of life that 

 he chooses the best things, for he is a living example of every doctrine 

 or precept which he expounds. Pupils watch his actions and discuss 

 his motives. They imitate his faults rather than his virtues, for it 

 is only this excuse that they need to satisfy" their consciences in matters 

 of doubtful morality. And that is the reason why I do not own a gun. 



