194 



NATUI^AL HISTORY OF Till- FARM 



Study 26. Observations at a Spring 



Any clcar-flo\\'ing permanent s])ring will do for this study — 

 whether * 'improved' * \\ith a basin or a spring-house, or not. A 

 time of freshet should be avoided: low water is ]-)referable. 

 The individual cqui])ment needed will be a flat dish (like a 

 white-enameled vegetable-dish) and a hand dip-net, with, 

 possibly, a few vials to hold specimens pending their identi- 

 fication. For common use, a pail, a garden-rahc and a 

 thermometer should be provided. 



The program of work will consist of: 



1 . An examination of the spring itself, its water, its bed, 

 its topographic situation. 



2. A sur^^ey of the inhabitants of its waters, both plants 

 and animals. The plants may be raked out of the water, and 

 certain animals may be picked from them by hand: other 

 animals may be picked from stones in the brook-bed or sifted 

 from the bottom mud with a dip-net. 



The record of tliis study may consist of: 



1 . A map of the emdrons of the spring, including a bit of 

 the outflowing brook, showing topograph\% outcropping 

 strata, riffles and pools. 



2. Notes on the spring water, its temperature, color, 

 taste, etc. 



3 . An annotated list of the population of the water. 



(a) For plants, giving name, kind of plant, growth- 



habit, relative abundance, etc. 



(b) For animals, giving name, kind of animal, situa- 



tion in which found, rc]:itivc abundance, 

 economic importance, etc. 



