26 THE NATURE STUDY COURSE. 



Models. — Models in clay or other material made by the 

 pupils may be compared with the plaster ones obtained from 

 the dealers in such goods. The pupils' models should always 

 be made from nature, never from the purchased ones. 



Magnifying Glasses. — One or more magnifying lenses 

 will be found very useful ; they cost from twenty-five cents to 

 a dollar, according to quality. An opera-glass aids greatly in 

 the study of birds. A compound microscope, like the un- 

 abridged dictionary, would be used more by the teacher than 

 any one else and that chiefly in the preparation of lessons. 

 Occasionally it would be found useful in demonstrating some 

 point to the children or in exciting wonder in their minds. A 

 satisfactory microscope, fitted with one ocular, two objectives, 

 and revolving nosepiece, can now be purchased for from $25 

 to $30. 



Aquarium. — " No one piece of Nature Study apparatus," 

 says Prof. Hodge in " Nature Study and Life," " is capable of 

 serving so many purposes as an aquarium. It may be used 

 wet or dry ; filled with water it becomes the means of prac- 

 tical acquaintance with all kinds of aquatic life, both plant 

 and animal ; managed as a vivarium or terrarium, it makes a 

 fine insect-breeding case, or fernery, or place for a collection 

 of living mosses, or home for frogs, tree-frogs, turtles, sala- 

 manders, snakes, slugs, land-snails." Even this list does not 

 exhaust its uses. 



Small aquaria may be improvised by cutting the shoulders 

 off large bottles ; ' gem jars ' with wide necks and fish-globes 

 serve the same purpose. The usual form of an aquarium is 

 an oblong box with metallic angles and glass sides and bottom. 

 A convenient general purpose size is 8 to 10 inches wide, 14 

 to 16 inches long, and 10 to 13 inches deep. They may be 

 purchased ready-made from dealers or made to order by any 

 tinsmith. The materials required are strips of heavy angle- 



