270 BIRDS IN THEIR RELATIONS TO MAN. 



as a recreation, and thus have been led to bring it into school. 

 A Bird Day is celebrated in many schools, and in at least three 

 States Bird Day is combined with Arbor Day, and appointed 

 by executive proclamation to be observed in schools by appro- 

 priate exercises. 



While the results of school work are mostly as remote from 

 the application as youth is from maturity, they ought not to 

 be wholly so. As has already been noted, one of the greatest 

 afflictions endured by birds is the nest-robbing small boy. 

 Hunting birds' nests is apparently an original sin, born in the 

 flesh and bound to crop out. Properly handled, it need be 

 neither condoned nor condemned. The considerate teacher 

 will take the bull by the horns by asking his pupils to find 

 nests. He will require an account at stated intervals of the 

 position and architecture of nests, the number and appearance 

 of eggs, period of incubation, and length of time the young 

 remain in the nest. The short-sighted policy of taking eggs 

 will thus be overcome. There should be no honor in failure. 

 None should receive credit who are not able to report the 

 young safely on the wing. Of course the teacher should 

 have a lively interest in the matter himself, and be able to 

 advise in many w r ays, but this much granted, the plan will 

 work. 1 



1 In this school work The Bird Calendar, by Clarence Moores Weed, 

 will be found useful. It enables the pupil to keep his record clearly and 

 systematically. It is published by Rand, McNally & Co., Chicago. 



