EL-4 



SJTHE BOOK" SHELF 



Bird Friends. Gilbert H. Trafton, Professor of Biology, Mankato \ormal 

 School, Minn. 320 pp., plentifully and attractively illustrated. Hough- 

 ton Mifflin Co. $2.00. 

 "A Complete Bird Book for Americans" is the ideal which Professor Trafton 

 had in mind when writing this book; and he has attained his ideal to a far 

 greater extent than do most of us. This book makes for intelligence on every 

 phase of the bird problem. However, its importance and value to teachers 

 appeals especially to us. It discusses bird travelers, the music, the homes, the 

 nesting habits, the colors and plumage of birds, how to know them, their 

 economic value, their enemies, their protection, how to attract them and feed 

 them and last of all and very important, a chapter on teaching bird protection 

 in the schools; this discusses the purposes and materials for bird study, bird- 

 games and calenders, field trips, bird clubs, the relation of bird study to other 

 school subjects and an outline of bird study by grades and seasons which ends 

 in a series of very practical lessons. 



Professor Trafton writes lucidly and terseley and has therefore been able to 

 condense a very great deal of information into this book and it should be on the 

 reference shelves of every teacher in America. 



The Natural History of Chautauqua. Professor Vaughan MacCaughey, 

 Teacher of Natural History in the Chautauqua Summer Schools. 1 ,^5 pp. 

 B. W. Huebsch. $1.00. 

 For all Chautauqua lovers, here is a most valuable and interesting book and 

 seldom has any book given the Editor such keen pleasure; for she too once 

 taught nature-study at Chautauqua and thus is able to appreciate the great 

 value of this natural history survey of the Chautauqua grounds. It covers the 

 summer birds of Chautauqua and a key for their determination, a list of and a 

 key to the trees, a list of the shrubs, the flowering plants, the insects, the 

 mammals, the fishes in the brooks and in the lake, the frogs, toads and sala- 

 manders, snakes and turtles, a synopsis of the ferns and a list of the mush- 

 rooms, a synopsis of the common rocks and even an account of the stars of the 

 Chautauqua summer sky. In addition there are very interesting chapters on 

 the geologic history of the region and an account of its early settlement and 

 agricultural development. The book closes with an enlightening chapter on the 

 Place of Natural History in the Educational Program. If we ever visit 

 Chautauqua again, this book will surely be our close companion during every 

 waking moment. 



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