308 NATURE STUDY AND AGRICULTURE 



identify new ones. Help them realize that it is not color 

 alone, but the habits and movements that will enable them 

 to identify new birds and recognize old acquaintances. 

 As far as possible keep your back to the sun, otherwise the 

 colors are likely to be misleading. Opera or field glasses 

 in the hands of the teacher and possibly the older pupils 

 aid materially in the study, but they are not indispensable. 

 All the larger birds and many of the smaller ones may be 

 identified with the unaided eye. If you know of a small 

 stream or pool where birds are in the habit of gathering to 

 drink and bathe, you may study many different specimens 

 by sitting quietly near the spot and watching the birds as 

 they come to the watering place. 



A simple outline that may easily be kept in mind, 

 similar to the one given below, adds definiteness to the 

 work. 



Where is the bird ? What is it doing ? What is its 

 size ? Compare with robin, English sparrow, or house 

 wren. What is the color of head, neck, back, wings, tail, 

 throat, breast, belly ? Color and length of bill. Do you 

 notice any special color markings when the bird flies ? 



While the study should receive its greatest attention 

 during the spring months, much may be done in the fall at 

 the beginning of the school year. If certain birds have 

 been studied in the spring, observation of these should be 

 continued in the fall. Any difference in habits that the 

 birds have taken on should be noted. The young or 

 immature of many species differ greatly from the adults in 

 color markings. The fall is a good time to identify them. 

 Many of the summer residents gather in flocks several 

 weeks before starting on their journey southward. This is 



