54 Bulletin No. 2[. 



mer School. The term is now so nearly at an end that it is possible to 

 form some idea of the success or failure of this experiment. The object 

 saught in this class was to so familiarize the students with our more com- 

 mon birds that they would be able to give intelligent guidance to the 

 children under their charge in the school room. This was chiefly accom- 

 plished by field study, with, as well as without, the teacher. But the 

 method is of far less interest than the result. Notwithstanding many 

 days of excessive heat, and frequent interruptions by rain (an unusual 

 occurrence in summer here), some eighty species of birds have been re- 

 corded, fully fifty of them many times, and upwards of forty have sung 

 for us repeatedly, while the nesting of fully twenty-five has been studied 

 satisfactorily. Excellent opportunities have been afforded for the study 

 of young plumages and the care of the young, while much has been 

 learned of the molt and of the roosting habits. 



The insects and heat, while causing more or less inconvenience, have 

 not proven serious obstacles. The practice of long walks and long hours 

 of field work has resulted not only in the ability to do more of it but to 

 enjoy it so that it has become a pleasure, as the many expressed regrets 

 that the term is so nearly closed indicate. The term's work has' im- 

 pressed upon me the fact that summer bird-study is both possible and 

 profitable, while at no other time can the songs be studied so well, for 

 then they are heard singly and the singers can be approached more 

 readily. There is almost no medley of bird music from which the dif- 

 ferent songs must be separated out. 



The keen and sustained interest exhibited by this class of both teach- 

 ers and students gives me great hope for the future of the birds. In the 

 near future there will be greater strides made in the dissemination of 

 "Acquaintance with the birds" among school-children, a right acquain- 

 tance, than the whole past has seen. Let the good work go on. 



Lynds Jones, Oberlin, Ohio. 



JULY NESTING. 



As we come to count up when the month is only a little more than 

 half over, it seems remarkable the number of birds v.'e have found 

 nesting here near Oberlin, in July. Of course we expect to run across 

 some belated nesters every season, but as Mr. Jones and I compare notes 

 we find that we have recorded eggs belonging to fourteen species of birds 

 in only three days afield this month — and that too. without paying any 

 particlar attention to nests. Is the nesting season later than usual this 



