362 



NATURE STUDY AND LIFE 



recommended for school use ; while feeding tests with nest- 

 lings, conducted in the manner suggested for the toad, 

 would open the eyes of children to the work birds per- 

 form in nature as no amount of book work could do. 

 Toward the end of the spring term the fledgelings that the 

 children are rescuing should be utilized for such study, 

 and not infrequently a crippled bird that could not be 



FIG. 142. A CONTRAST IN HOUSEKEEPING 

 Nests of chipping sparrow and English sparrow 



safely liberated may come into the possession of the school 

 and may be kept for such tests. The usual objections to 

 caged birds would not apply to such cases. 



But, after all, the taming of a bird is the great lesson, 

 great chiefly for its influence upon the child. It is a 

 lesson in gentleness, tact, and patience that cannot be 

 excelled in the whole realm of nature study. If a child 

 has once accomplished this feat, its civilizing influence 

 may go with him as long as he lives. 



Books about birds are now so numerous and so acces- 

 sible to all that I hesitate to name any, since space forbids 



