320 ELEMENTARY ZOOLOGY. 



feathers you can find and indicate from what part of the 

 body they come. In what respects do they differ? What 

 is the value of each kind? How are the feathers arranged 

 on the body? Is there any regularity, or are they all 

 over the body as the hair on mammals? Study care- 

 fully the structure of a large feather. 



See if answers can be found to the following questions : 



What are the similarities between the front limbs 

 (wings) and the hind limbs? Where is the knee, and 

 where the ankle-joint of the bird? In general what are 

 the qualities of the neck in the birds? What end is 

 gained thereby? Is the trunk of the bird flexible? What 

 is the value of this condition? 



How many toes in the bird? Is this the case in all 

 birds? Are all the toes equally developed? Are they 

 all turned forward? Is this arrangement found in all 

 birds? Is there any connection between the closing of 

 the toes and the flexing of the leg? Value of this? Are 

 the eyes movable? Do they view the same field? Do 

 the two command the whole field without turning the 

 head? What is the nictitating membrane? Its use? 

 Is there any ear? If so is it more like that of the frog or 

 that. of man? 



III. Comparative studies of the bird population should 

 be made, if possible. For this purpose a food box with 

 a small opening which will allow a little food to be ex- 

 posed all the time will attract many birds in the winter 

 and early spring (Fig. 129) ; a drinking and bathing place 

 in the spring and summer will do the same. A mere 

 piece of suet hung up in a tree brings the birds. All 

 these should be put where the observer can approach 

 without disturbing the birds. 



Make a written report on the disposition of the common 



