Nature in Games 55 



You are now ready to put your bird in flight. The bird will look like a 

 monoplane colored as near the color of the bird as possible. Hook the notch 

 in the bird brace to the loop in string. Pull the bird with the right hand far 

 back and hold the twig firmly in the left. The twig will bend and upon 

 releasing the bird with the right hand will take flight in the direction it is 

 pointed. 



Many rules may be used for this game. One might consist in a group of 

 contestants racing a number of birds across a field as fast as possible with a 

 minimum number of starts and stops. Another variation might be to iden- 

 tify the plant on which the bird lights. The game should be limited to the 

 birds that are native to that part of the country. 



BALL AND REED GAME 



Find a stick about 12" long and i" in diameter filled with a soft pitch so 

 that it can be easily removed. An Elder stem or a piece of bamboo would be 

 good. After it is hollowed out take two small rubber balls slightly larger 

 than the two ends and tie a piece of string to one ball. Now thread the 

 string through the hollow stick and tie it to the other ball. The game is now 

 constructed. To play throw it on the ground and if it is thrown a certain 

 way it will bounce back to the player. It can also be thrown so it will 

 bounce in the opposite direction. Practice throwing and make up your own 

 game. Placing a number of nature objects on the floor and trying to hit them 

 and then naming them is one suggestion. 



CORNCOB DART GAME 



Dart games are always fun but must be played under careful supervision, 

 so that no one is injured from the dart. An excellent dart may be made 

 by cutting a corncob in two and using one piece for the body of the dart. 

 Take three feathers about as long as the cob and stick them in the top 

 at equal distances apart as shown in the diagram. Arrange them so the 

 curved part of the feathers are on the inside. This will make the dart whirl 

 as it goes through the air. Stick a large needle in the other end of the cob 



