336 SCHOOL EQUIPMENT AND ITS MANAGEMENT. 



Coverings of Animals. 



(a) Hairs and their modifications. Fur of mole (bur- 

 rowing type) ; piece of hedgehog's skin with 

 spines (specialised protective type) ; skin of 

 weasel (ordinary f ur) ; skin of stoat, summer 

 and winter varieties (seasonally adapted type) ; 

 wool of sheep ; bristles of hog ; fur of rabbit, 

 hare, or squirrel ; seal's skin ; skin of porpoise or 

 dolphin (aquatic type). 



(&) Feathers. Set of pigeon's feathers from different 

 parts of the body mounted on a card. Large quill 

 feather dissected on card to show different parts. 

 Wing of pigeon, dried expanded on a board, and 

 then displayed to show arrangement and kinds of 

 feathers on this organ. Set of feathers to show 

 brilliance in colouration. 



(c) Scales. An interesting object, if it can be obtained, 

 is the moulted scales (slough) of a snake. This 

 is sometimes to be found on the moors or hillsides. 

 It may be more readily obtained from an animal 

 dealer. 



To complete such a set, a few scales of dif- 

 ferent fishes might be mounted on a card with a 

 glass front. 



Collections of shells. Such a collection, owing to its 

 value in different ways, should be part of the nature study 

 equipment in all schools. Foreign shells often exhibit 

 great beauty of colour and sculpturing, and these are not 

 difficult to obtain, but an endeavour should be made to 

 secure a set of British examples, both marine and terrestrial, 

 such as are referred to in the lesson on shells. See p. 147. 



Collections of butterflies and moths. These can be built 

 up in part from the types reared in school. An interest- 

 ing set can be made of a large number of individuals of 

 the same species, e.g. of tiger moth or magpie moth. These 

 are useful to illustrate the important fact of variation. 



Other natural objects, e.g. common minerals, stuffed 

 mammals or birds, etc. 



