NATURB STUDY — THE BIRD'S NEvST. 205 



tion of eggs should be permitted. Collections of eggs are 

 needed by professional ornithologists and public museums 

 but boys and girls in school do not need them. Procure 

 the nest in every case, if possible, with a part of the branch 

 ojr twigs supporting it. The following outline, together 

 with interposed questions and explanations, is submitted 

 as a plan of presenting the work to a class in the study of 

 any bird's nest : 



1. SeIvECTion of Site. — This is commonly a tree, 

 shrub, vine, stump, log, ground, fence, wall or building. 

 Have the pupils to enumerate a list of places in which they 

 have seen birds build their nests. The conditions which 

 are to be regarded in determining the different sites are 

 now in order and may be conveniently grouped under the 

 following four heads : 



1. Convenience of building material. 



2. Enemies. 



3. Food. 



4. Safety. 



For the first lesson select nests of some familiar and well- 

 known bird, as the English sparrow or robin, and have a 

 number of them before the pupils, and also select one or 

 more of another species, as that of the Baltimore oriole, 

 for comparison. 



Do the nests vary? In form, in the material selected 

 and in the places selected for their building ? Was the 

 nest under examination fastened to a swaying or to a firm 

 branch ? How does it differ in the two situations ? Why ? 

 Is the nest easily seen by enemies ? What care is taken 

 by the bird to insure safety from accidents, storms of wind, 

 rain, heat, etc? What other means of protection can you 

 observe ? Do the branches and leaves form a canopy or 

 " pagoda " over the nest ? 



2. Construction. — How does the bird shape the nest ? 

 Is it shaped by the bird occupying a position on the inside 



