A Field and Laboratory Guide in Biological Nature-Study, by Elliot R. Downing. 

 University of Chicago Press. Price $i.oo. 



Nattire-Study and biology teachers everywhere will welcome this helpful 

 book in which Dr. Downing has reduced the study of well chosen groups of 

 plants and animals to definite methods. This will help to dispel a certain 

 haziness in the minds of many teachers as to how to proceed. Those of us who 

 teach for the love of it will find nothing but pleasure in following out his careful 

 directions, answering the questions from oiir own experience. When we do 

 this, we enjoy out-door nature-study with pupils as companions. 



The subjects presented are: Some Common Insects, Autumn Weeds, Animals 

 oj Pond and Stream, Trees, The Spore Bearers, Animal Companions, Birds, 

 Seeds and Seedlings, and The Garden. 



The student makes his records on blank pages close to the questions and 

 directions, thus becoming a partner in the building of a delightfvil book. 



The insect work includes field and laboratory study of the cricket, butterflies 

 and moths, ants in the nest, aphids, wasps, dragonflies, and hotise-flies. The 

 following will indicate the very practical nature of the directions and questions : 

 "Send fifty cents to the Kny-Scheerer Co., 410 W. Twenty -seventh Street, 

 New York City, for a batch of silkworm eggs. They will come on a small piece 

 of c rd which may be put in a covered tumbler with a few fresh mulberry 

 leaves. The eggs will hatch in a few days and the tiny larvae will crawl onto 

 the leaves to feed. Add fresh leaves as necessary and as the larvae grow, trans- 

 fer them to an insect cage where more sprays may be kept. Keep record of the 

 length of a newly hatched larva and of its length on successive days as it feeds. 

 The full-grown larvae will spin their cocoons. How do they do it? Is the silk 

 continuous? How long is it before the moth hatches after the cocoon is com- 

 plete? Mating and egg-laying follow and the eggs will start the cycle again." 



The weed study is based on the making of a collection, mounted and labelled 

 on pages provided in the book. They may be removed and bound separately 

 with covers which are also provided. 



In the chapter on animals of pond and stream, special attention is given to 

 the movements of insects, crayfish, fishes, frogs and turtles, and there are good 

 directions for the making and care of an aquarium. 



The tree study chapter includes pages for sketching tree outlines, in addi- 

 tion to study of recognition characters of species, and of methods of propagation. 



The study of molds, toadstools, mosses, ferns, horse-tails, yeasts and bacteria 

 opens up a field in which nature-study teachers have long wanted help. 



The cat and dog, squirrel and rabbit both in the school and at home furnish 

 much information regarding our animal companions, while the bird study 



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