34 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [13:1— Jan., 1917 



owl, whether in the school room or in the zoological gardens. 

 However, screech owls are not always so accommodating as to be 



present for nature-study lessons, and 

 the habits of this bird are so interesting 

 and important, that we may be allowed 

 to use a picture as a peg on which to 

 hang a lesson. This is even one of those 

 rare occasions where a stuffed specimen 

 may be used without causing a scandal 

 in the nature-study ranks. For a lesson 

 with the live bird, or without it, for that matter, the Obs. i-i i , p. 

 106, each affords a topic for a short written lesson. 



The Pig. — This most clever and most misunderstood of all the 

 domestic animals offers a fine opportunity for the observations and 

 deductions which constitute the right sort of nature-study lesson. 

 The pig is an animal fitted to roam at large in woods and forests, 

 especially in the neighborhood of streams where it finds ample food 

 in acorns, roots, etc.,* and fights its battles with its own strong 

 weapons, and protects itself from stinging insects by wallowing in 

 the mud, and in general leads a successful life. On p. 303-306 

 information is given which will enable the teacher to present the 

 lesson in an interesting manner. Obs. 1, p. 307 is enough for one 

 lesson when written. Obs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 form another lesson. Obs. 

 6 another, and Obs. 8, 9, 10, 11 another. Obs. 12 suggests topics 

 for more serious essays. 



The Pines — We have in America several common native pines 

 and several that are generally planted in parks and grounds that 

 have been introduced from Europe. On p. 112 of the Tree Note 

 Book is given the table for determining these pines by the number 

 and length of the needles and sheaths. For this lesson, choose a 

 pine near the schoolhouse so that it may be observed for several 

 months. Obs. 1 , 2, 3 , p. 795 constitute an observation lesson out of 

 doors, while Obs. 4 includes a sketch and perhaps a comparison 

 .with the leaves of some other species, and Obs. 5 and 6 constitute 

 two lessons that may be completed in the schoolroom with the 

 specimens brought in by the pupils and the results written. 

 Information for Obs. 8 and 9 should be obtained through reading 

 reference books. The age of the tree should be ascertained if 

 possible, and if it is an old tree, its life should be correlated with 

 history. See "The Old Pine Tree's Story" in this issue. 



