Hair, Wool and Fur Nests of Birds. 5 1 



Hair, Woo^ and Fur. 



To study these things it is necessary to have samples of 

 different kinds of fur. Pieces taken from the trimmings of 

 cast-off wraps, carriage robes, etc., are useful. These should 

 be examined and compared as regards, fineness, length, 

 thickness, value, color, etc. Compositions on these things 

 form an excellent exercise. Accounts of the animal which 

 furnishes each kind, how caught, and something of his habits 

 and the land where he lives, will come in as a part. Hairs 

 should be pulled from the head and examined with a glass. 

 The root or bulb and the delicate barbs should be noticed. 

 The similarity to feathers is also noteworthy. 



Scales of fishes are very interesting. The way they 

 are fastened to the fish, their size and shape, are worth 

 study. Are all scales on the same fish alike ? Are the scales 

 of all fishes alike in shape ? In thickness ? Scales on the 

 legs of fowls. Their points of similarity and difference 

 from those of fishes. The scales of turtle-shell. Their 

 form, number, and peculiarities. 



Nests of Birds. 



The materials used ? The way they are woven ? Evidence 

 of design in their construction ? Where found ? How 

 obtained? Easily got or hard to reach? Compare these 

 nests one with another. Are all robins' nests alike ? In 

 what respects do they differ ? Can you account for these 

 differences in material used ? Tell the fable of how the 

 thorn bush plucked a little tuft of wool from a little lamb. 

 The lamb at first complained to the thorn bush, but when 

 the thorn told him that it was done to give the bird some- 

 thing warm with which to line her nest, the little lamb told 

 the thorn to pluck as much as she wanted, etc. The moral 

 is of mutual dependence and helpfulness. 



Other kinds of nests, such as those of the paper-wasp, 

 mud-wasp, bee, are full of material. Spiders' webs, snakes' 

 holes, ant-hills, and the hollow in the tree where the squirrel 

 sleeps will be good themes to conclude the, series, 



