156- NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [15:4— Apr., 1919 



Weather studies — cloud formation in early morning, noon, even- 

 ing; wind direction at various times of day. 



Earth sections — studies of earth layers exposed at embankments, 

 cliffs, railway cuts, etc. 



Trees — composition of the woodlots ; solitary trees of the open 

 fields; roadside trees; trees attacked by insect or fungous pests. 



The lay of the land — ^hills, valleys, drainage systems, ponds, rela- 

 tions of roads and trails to topography. 



Bird studies — birds of the roadsides, thickets, fields, secluded 

 woodlands, marshy places; songs and calls; relations to food 

 supply. 



Insects — collections of special groups; habitats; gall-forming 

 insects; leaf miners and rollers, etc. 



Edible plants — wild berries and other fruits ; mushrooms ; medi- 

 cinal herbs. 



Animals — observations of roadside and field animals ; frogs and 

 toads, salamanders, snakes, brook fishes; animals and their food. 



A feature of our trips, upon which considerable emphasis was 

 laid, was the study of the local topography. Most people are not 

 able to read an ordinary map, and are only dimly aware of the real 

 significance of the commonest topographic features. So, dirring 

 every trip, we studied the lay of the land, hills, swamps, and 

 beaches, asking about each the questions — ^Why is it here? how 

 long? how constructed? The relations of plant distribution to 

 physiography, and of animal communities to plant zones, were 

 made standard subjects for observation and comment on every 

 trip.' Studies in place names, local history, legends and folk tales, 

 also have a legitimate place in such topographic studies. One of 

 the great aims of nature-study is to create and develop pride in the 

 locality, — pride based upon intimate sympathetic knowledge of 

 the locality. 



Studies of the summer sky, and other star observations, form a 

 natural and interesting feature of the over-night trip. Such 

 themes as the Milky Way, the important constellations, the lunar 

 month, the "shooting stars," etc., are readily suggested. 



The woodcraft and "scouting" phases of nature-study easily 

 come to the front during an excursion of this character. Weather- 

 lore, the different kinds of fire wood, the edible products of the 

 forest, the harmful animals, and many other aspects of woodcraft 

 can be discussed and studied. Much helpful material may be 



