NATURE STUDY I,E;SS0NS. 37 



Nature Study Lessons. II. 



BY EDWARD J. BURNHAM. 



In one of his prettiest stories, Richard Jefferies tells how 

 a fern once taught a little boy a great secret — that if he 

 wanted to know anything, or to hear a story, or what the 

 grass was saying, or the oak-leaves singing, he must be 

 careful not to interfere ; for if he interfered with one thing, 

 it would tell another, and they would all know in a mo- 

 ment, and stop talking, and never say a word. 



Ferns do not tell their secrets to little boys nowadays ; 

 but everyone who wishes to learn for himself of the intense 

 life all around him in the woods and fields and streams, 

 must first learn the grand secret which little Saint Guido 

 knew. When one goes abroad into the great companj^ of 

 living things that crawl or swim or walk or fly, he must 

 be very quiet and careful. Otherwise, although thousands 

 of eyes are peering at him, he will scarcely know he is in 

 such company at all. 



Many rare opportunities for observation are lost because 

 those who go abroad do not know how to behave in the 

 company they seek ; and children are not the worst blun- 

 derers. Talking, laughing, a heavy footstep, the flourish 

 of a stick or cane will cheat the entire party of many a pret- 

 ty scene or pleasurable discovery. Haste to kill or catch is 

 as bad as noise — perhaps worse. It is unusual for the 

 sportsman to know much about the creatures whose lives 

 he seeks. He shoots at sight, literally " bags " his game, 

 if successful, and, if he cares for further information, seeks 

 it in books. The mere collector, also, who thinks only of 

 adding to his collection, commonly has little more than the 

 dead bodies of his victims for his pains. By catching and 

 killing, instead of watching, he has missed the chance to 



