204 NATURE STUDY. 



be conducted at that season of the year when the avian ar- 

 chitects themselves are beginning their maneuvers pertain- 

 ing to the selecting of sites and constructing of nests. It 

 will create a stronger interest on the part of the pupils in 

 school, when they have examined the nest in hand, if, at 

 the same time, they have opportunities to observe the birds 

 closely while in the act of gathering material and putting 

 it together to form the nest. This kind of a sequence in 

 the work will afford opportunities for them to verify and 

 strongly impress certain ideas and conclusions derived from 

 examining the deserted nests. 



The ideal act of beginning the work is for teacher and 

 pupils to go out reconnoitering and search enthusiastically 

 for the deserted nests, bring them into the school and note 

 the kind of sites and the character of the environments. 

 One gets a fuller meaning of an object when its complete 

 setting — environment in this case — is comprehended. An 

 eventful and well-planned search for nests and the pleas- 

 ure of experiencing the discoveries connected with it. will 

 contribute wonderfully in creating an enthusiastic spirit in 

 both teacher and pupil. Usually the child needs no intro- 

 duction to the realm of nature. He has been taught to re- 

 alize that wealth and enjoyment of life in former experi- 

 ences. It is too frequently a fact that it is the teacher 

 who is the laggard and obstruction to a fuller enjoyment 

 and participation of this part of the work, and who is too 

 much dispo.sed to regard nature study as something acces- 

 sory, if not a Cinderella, to the school curriculum. 



One caution must be strictly observed, for it is of very 

 great importance, and that is to impress on the mind of 

 the child that these nests are deserted ones and are of no 

 further use to the birds, but children must not visit any 

 nest while the birds are brooding. A typical collection of 

 nests taken after the birds have forsaken them is no sin. 

 Such a collection is desirable for the school, but no coUec- 



