THE 00L0QI8T 



3 



kinds. Go on hikes witli them explain- 

 ing the different kinds of birds found 

 by the way, also nature study of all 

 kinds. 



A Scout to get a Merit Badge in Bird 

 Study must do all the following and 

 then some. Produce a list of 50 species 

 of birds personally observed and posi- 

 tively identified. Produce a list show- 

 ing the greatest number of species he 

 has seen in the field in one week. 



Produce a list derived from personal 

 observation, of 20 .species of birds 

 particularly noted for their value to 

 agriculture in the destruction of in- 

 sects. These are the main ones. 



Now you will see to get a Scout to 

 the point that he can answer correctly 

 the three main questions is something 

 wortli while and while you are getting 

 these boys to that place, you might 

 start a future Ornithologist of reai 

 note on his career. We must do some- 

 thing to get the young ones interested 

 in Oology or when we pass on there 

 will be no real ones to carry on the 

 good work and that is something thai 

 we cannot allow. 



It will be no great inconvenience to 

 take the boys with you on your ramble 

 in the woods. Early Sunday mornings 

 are ideal for the purpose and will keep 

 the boy from mischief. Then you will 

 be surprised at the good time you will 

 get from the association witli the 

 young ones. I have been Director of 

 Scoutcraft for Scouts in South Florida 

 for over six years, and the past yea:' 

 was Scoutmaster of the best Troop in 

 the country. I believe, and wliile it lias 

 taken a lot of time, it has done both the 

 boys and myself a great deal of good, 

 and believe I see three young fellows 

 who have the makings of Oologists in 

 them. Will take them in the field this 

 season again a'nd see. 



After you have allied yourself with 

 the Scouts, pick out the most likely 

 one or two, and send him The Oologist. 

 It won't break anyone and might be the 



means of securing a successor to your- 

 self in the grand old school of Oology. 

 Things don't look any too good for 

 Oology; the government making very 

 strict regulations, the schools and so- 

 cieties preaching against the disturb- 

 ing of birds, it is time for us field stu- 

 dents to start in educating the younger 

 ones. 



I will be glad to furnish any infor- 

 mation to any one who is interested 

 and will give them all information 

 necessary to start the good work, pro- 

 vided there is no local Scout man to 

 help you out. 



Oscar E. Baynard, 

 Plant City, Fla. 



AS THE CALENDAR CHANGES 



The last day of the year is now on 

 the reel. The plot of this 1921 produc- 

 tion is a 300 acre farm adjoining my 

 residence, formerly a typical Southern 

 estate with its massive brick house on 

 the hill 200 yards from the road. Tall 

 pines and maples surround the dwell- 

 ing. Along the pasture fence are large 

 trees containing dozens of mistletoe 

 shrubs, "bushes within trees." 



No announcement of winter, except 

 the date on the calendar. Turkey Buz- 

 zards are soaring above the cattle pens 

 and the Little Sparrow Hawks make 

 a "nose dive" when he moves from a 

 near telephone pole. The Red-bellied 

 Woodpecker is a daily visitor to my 

 front yard feeding station, but how 

 much noisier he is than the more in- 

 dustrious and unconcerned competitor, 

 a Downy Woodpecker. 



In the rose bushes along the back 

 yard fence several Song Sparrows 

 loiter and occt^sionaliy Durst rorth in 

 full tone a most delightful solo re- 

 served apparently for moments of 

 great ecstasy. Cardinals are in paii-w 

 and manifest no humiliation as they 

 skirt the ground encircling the chicken 

 yard looking for stray kernels of grain. 

 Among brush piles and gray arbors, 



