124 Staten Island Association of Arts and Sciences 



observed in their natural haunts might not be recognized. It 

 is reasonably safe to conclude, then, that the pupil who confines 

 his or her observations solely to the zoological park is very likely 

 to form mistaken and distorted conceptions of animal life. 



The aim of nature study is to cultivate a sympathetic acquaint- 

 ance with nature and to develop the power of observation. The 

 children should be brought into actual contact with the object 

 of study. 



The city boy will find some way to satisfy his desires when 

 there is aroused in him an intense interest in nature either through 

 visits to the parks or by reading. He will persuade his father or 

 guardian to accompany him on Saturdays or holidays to suitable 

 localities beyond the limits of the city, where he may ramble among 

 natural woodlands and match his wits against those of the crea- 

 tures of the fields and forests. But this sort of thing is not 

 always practicable with an entire class of children, for even if 

 the teacher were willing to undertake such an excursion, the plan 

 is by no means to be recommended when birds are the objects to 

 be sought. In the first place, there are likely <"o be several chil- 

 dren in the class who do not have at heart the real interests of the 

 rest of the company, and who are either continually laughing 

 aloud or chattering with those who might otherwise indulge in 

 some serious observations. And, in the majority of instances, 

 even though those in the party should maintain silence, it is 

 absurd to think of studying the timid birds by advancing on their 

 domains in a great army. 



In the study of botany it is different: a plant is a fixed object 

 which can be observed and examined as one wishes. 



In the suburban districts we have conditions that are so differ- 

 ent from those in the city that the school child is in a position to 

 keep constantly in touch with certain of the wild things. In fact 

 there are some birds that seem to prefer these semirural places 

 (where men's homes are not thickly and still not too sparingly 

 distributed) to the more strictly open country stretches. Here 

 the child can put out bird houses of his own manufacture and 



