8 CIVIC BIOLOGY 



and of the times and seasons for the appropriate lesson. 1 The 

 course supposes at least seven field excursions : two in the 

 fall, for general outlines ; one in dead winter, for recognition 

 of trees, study of animal tracks and doings, winter birds, 

 hiding places of insects ; and four in the early and late spring. 

 In these excursions plan to take in a model dairy, vineyard, 

 orchard, nursery, tuberculosis sanitarium, fish hatchery, bird 

 sanctuary, or other local institutions of interest. 



Fall is the most favorable season of the school year in which 

 to study insects and to begin the study of birds. The largest 

 share of the time usually spent in " learning " lessons out of 

 books or in the indoor laboratory will be devoted to collect- 

 ing and studying specimens out of doors. Hunt particularly 

 for the species required by the course. There are so many 

 thousands of different insect species that you will soon find 

 yourself bewildered and discouraged if you try to study 

 them all. Any insect of special importance in your locality, 

 however, may be substituted for those in the 'course, if de- 

 sired. Collect, so far as possible, the complete story of the 

 life and work of each species, eggs, larvse, pupae and adults 

 (male and female), injured fruit, eaten leaves, stings, galls, 

 and the like. 



While working over the ground for insects it will require 

 but little additional time to collect the materials for several 

 other lines of work to be done in the laboratory during the 

 winter. Among the more important will be : 



Leaves and fruits of forest trees. 

 Fruits and seeds of common plants. 

 Weeds and their seeds. 



Common mushrooms and tree-destroying fungi. 



As many as possible of the parasitic fungi described in the text, 

 mildews, blights, rusts, and smuts. 



1 It will often be necessary for the teacher to keep careful watch and go 

 over the ground himself the day before a general field trip. 



