THIRD GRADE SPRING WORK 169 



Among the smaller waders may be mentioned our com- 

 mon snipe and killdeer. Why is the latter so called ? Why 

 do we often hear its shrill cry several times before we are 

 able to locate it on the naked shores of a lake or marsh? 

 Describe the nest and eggs of the killdeer. Discuss its food 

 area. Some snipes have nerves in their long, slender beaks, 

 that they may feel the larvae, etc., buried in the soft mud 

 into which they thrust their bills in search of food. 



Of what use are the wading birds to man? What insects 

 and other animals do they eat? If not destroyed, what 

 would be the increase of these animals ? A single toad will 

 often lay more than 10,000 eggs in a season. Many other 

 animals, also, are very prolific. A perpetual plague of frogs 

 would prevail in marshy lands were it not for the appetites 

 and ability of these wading birds. 



Many stories are told of these wading birds, especially 

 of the stork, which belongs to this class. It has, however, 

 become almost thoroughly domesticated in some countries 

 of Europe. 



LESSON XLII 

 FOOD AREAS LOWLAND BIRDS 



Make a list of the birds found in our farming lands. They 

 will include many of the perchers and some of the climbers. 

 These birds live mostly in trees, and show considerable 

 skill in making their nests. 



The robin is a very common example of these, and may 

 be studied in detail. Have the children describe him and 

 discuss the following points: the size, shape, and evident 

 use of the bill; his food supply; his feet and their adapta- 

 tion to arboreal life. Describe his flight. Does he walk 



