STRONG] TEACH I XG A BIRD COURSE 199 



pected to have the zeal and patience of the confirmed naturalist, 

 consequently things will drag if birds occur only at very infre- 

 quent intervals. 



On account of local considerations, trips to the country are 

 not being required this spring, but a few Saturday forenoon trips 

 in May are recommended. These have been variously required 

 in past years. They have been cut down from all-day trips be- 

 cause (1) afternoon conditions are not usually so favorable for 

 observing birds, and (2) many students are usually too tired to 

 do effective work after a long forenoon of earnest work. Too 

 many instructors are inconsiderate of the strength of their 

 pupils and delicate women are expected to undertake tramps 

 which would tire a strong man. The writer believes in the advis- 

 ability of recommending to the stronger members of the class 

 only, the more strenuous trips which should then be strictly op- 

 tional. 



The most successful excursion of the course is made in June 

 to a lake about fifty miles from Chicago where nesting marsh 

 birds can be studied to advantage. More marsh birds can be 

 found just outside the city, but boats and other conditions are not 

 present for handling a large party. The trip to the lake is made 

 the preceding evening, and work is started very early the next 

 morning. Some marshes in this lake are visited in boats, and nests 

 which have been located a few days previously are examined. 

 As the nests are usually where a boat cannot be rowed or poled, a 

 bridge of boats is made from open water to each nest. Men in 

 the party who are willing to wade, drag the boats one at a time 

 with their passen§ers in them into a line so that students who 



Bird Cl.a^ in M.arsh Studying Xests. 



