BIRD-PROTECTION IN SCHOOLS 153 



an incentive and object-lesson for the children to 

 construct a fountain at home. Such a fountain 

 was constructed a few years ago in a school-yard 

 at Worcester, Massachusetts, under the super- 

 vision of Miss Edna R. Thayer. The money was 

 raised by the children in various ways, the entire 

 cost of the fountain being twenty-two dollars and 

 fifty cents. The fountain was made on the same 

 plan as that described by Dr. Hodge (pages 120, 

 121). Wild flowers were planted in the crevices 

 of the fountain and at its base, and clumps of 

 shrubbery were set near so that their fruit 

 might furnish food for the birds. Connections 

 were made so that running water dripped into the 

 basin, and a drain carried off the surplus water. 

 The first year that the fountain was built it was 

 visited by twenty-five species of birds before 

 school closed in June. 



Some of the results of this fountain are thus set 

 forth by Miss Thayer in " Primary Education ": — 



" Without a suggestion from any one several 

 of the older boys and girls copied the bird- 

 fountain idea at their homes. Some placed pans 

 of water in the midst of a pile of stones, with 

 plants filling the spaces between them, the pan to 

 be emptied each day ; while one boy connected 

 a length of old rubber hose to his pan, thus 

 securing a constant supply of cool, fresh water. 



