GOETHE] 1 THE CALIFORNIA NATURE STUDY LEAGUE 205 



Its first attempt toward this was the publication of a monthly 

 bulletin. Each bulletin describes one incident in nature's ever- 

 revolving calendar. One of the first covered the thrilling * ' wedding 

 dance" of Anna's hummingbird. Timely subjects, such as this, 

 are chosen which can be found on any current Nature Study 

 Field Excursion. The bulletins, utilizing the thousands of branches 

 of the California County Library System, link out-of-door happen- 

 ings with the treasures that are in books. For example, children 

 enjoy tales of plant families, wherein the Jimson weed is dis- 

 covered to be a "cousin" of the tomato that makes a salad attrac- 

 tive, and of the potato that comes so regularly to the dinner table. 



The first issue of the bulletin was 50 copies. In May, 1920, its 

 circtdation will be about 5,000. It goes to centers throughout 

 California. From each of these Nature Study influence radiates. 

 One of the League's aims is its gradual duplication in every 

 American state. 



These stories are written for children. Out of their publication 

 has grown other activities. Space permits mention of only one, 

 the extension of the idea into nature guide work at summer resorts. 

 The California Fish and Game Commission has charge of the 

 conservation of wild life in California. Several years ago the 

 League discussed with them the conservation possibilities of 

 educating young Californians as to the unseen miracles of the 

 out-of-doors by such nature guides. It argued that on vacation 

 people are receptive to things in nature at other times unseen. 



The concept was promptly translated into action at three widely 

 different California resort centers. The test proved unexpectedly 

 successful. The next year the work was undertaken on a more 

 extensive scale at the string of resorts surrounding Lake Tahoe 

 in the Tahoe National Forest. A preliminary publicity campaign 

 was conducted from November until June. During this time 

 stories of the unique, often almost arctic, fauna and flora of the 

 high Sierras were published. These reached nearly one million 

 readers. 



Following this. Dr. Bryant of the University of California, 

 assisted by Dr. Loye Miller, the Los Angeles biologist, went from 

 resort to resort at Tahoe. They conducted Nature study excur- 

 sions for adults. They led nature study games for children. 

 These including the "herb smelling" and "bark feeling" games. 

 At the evening camp-fire were talks, movies of wild life, lantern 



