shaver] considerations IN TEACHING BIRD COURSE 55 



(e) How attached 



(f) Of what material constructed 



8. Eggs: 



(a) Number 



(b) Size 



(c) Color 



(d) Any other interesting points 



9. Nestlings: 



(a) Number 



(b) Color 



(c) Behavior 



(d) Other interesting points 



10. Yotmg in juvenile plvtmage 



Note points of diflference between young and parents. 



11. Females: 



If male and female birds have ob\'ious differences in plumage, 

 form or color, indicate them here. 



Records were made in the field in ordinar\- note books and later 

 transferred to cards which were filed alphabetically in individual 

 card files according to the method suggested by Dr. Strong. 

 From time to time these cards were collected and graded. 



The limited number of class discussions were taken up with 

 questions of an economic nature. For instance at one meeting the 

 food habits of the sparrows were discussed, each group of students 

 preparing a wnritten report of some one or in some cases two species. 

 Later periods were devoted to studying injurious and beneficial 

 species with a \'iew to their easy recognition in the field. Means of 

 attracting birds by the planting of appropriate shrubbery, the 

 putting up of nesting boxes, the estabUshment of feeding stations, 

 protection from cats and millinen,' hunters, and protection by 

 suitable game laws were some of the topics discussed. 



The most glaring defect in this course was the lack of laboratory 

 work. Stuffed specimens should be studied in the laboratory' in 

 such a series that the characteristics of each species will be known 

 by the time that species arrives from the south. This method has 

 been used at the University of Chicago and the Mankato Normal 

 School, but is manifestly impossible where there are no stuffed 

 specimens. A public museum in some cases would make it possible 

 to study, but perhaps not to handle mounted birds. It is possible 

 to study the birds from colored pictures in a somewhat similar way 



