BIRD 



734 



BIRD 



She must be familiar with the size and color 

 of the bird and the quality of its singing note; 

 she must be able to recognize the features 

 that distinguish male and female, and in addi- 

 tion know the habits and haunts of the bird. 

 What it feeds upon, how its food is obtained, 

 when and where it makes its nest, when the 

 young are hatched, how long they remain in 

 the nest* and the dangers that beset them after 

 they have learned to fly are some of the facts 



Primaries 



The first crow, March 1. 



The first robin, March 10. 



Besides a general school record, there should 

 be separate records, kept by the pupils indi- 

 vidually. Instructions for observing the birds 

 should be complete and clear. Observations 

 are most successfully made by one pupil alone, 

 or by groups of not more than two or three, 

 as birds are easily frightened by noises and by 

 the approach of people, whom they are likely 



Upper Tail Coverts 



Wing. Covert 5 



Crown 



Mandfble& 



Lore 



Throat 



Car Coverts Brea5t \ Flank 

 vShoulder 



PARTS OF A BIRD 



Tarsus 



of which the successful teacher will make her- 

 self mistress. The children must be taught how 

 to help the young birds, many of which die 

 from lack of care. 



3. The greater part of the work on bird 

 study should be devoted to outdoor exercises. 



4. Classroom work should consist chiefly of 

 hearing reports and giving instruction for future 

 observations. On completing the study of a 

 bird assign the review of the work for a class 

 exercise. Finally, the review should be written ; 

 this affords an opportunity for drill in composi- 

 tion. 



Suggestions jor Observations. 1. The return 

 of the birds in the spring is a subject that never 

 fails to interest the children. Have them report 

 the first birds they see and keep a record of 

 these reports in some such form as this: 



to regard as enemies. The directions should 

 include these points: 



a. In making trips to study birds wear dull- 

 colored clothing, preferably shades of brown 

 which tone in with the ground and trunks of 

 trees. White and bright colors are not prac- 

 ticable because they attract attention. 



b. Move gently and quietly so as not to 

 frighten the bird. As a rule, the observer can 

 approach the bird more successfully if he pre- 

 tends to be searching for something else. 



2. Train the pupils to describe only what 

 they actually see, and insist on their making 

 careful observations. Caution them about 

 imagining that they see the thing they are 

 looking for. 



3. An opera glass will be found very con- 

 venient, but it can be dispensed with much 



