The Audubon Societies 65 



with the name of the species to which it belonged, while another showed a 

 'Book of Birds' which she had worked on all winter. The Leaflets made a great 

 display and represent many, many hours of work. A short program, given by 

 the children, consisted of original papers, poems by various authors, etc. 



On our first bird- walk we observed eight species, and on our last walk for the 

 year, twenty-three. The older members keep weekly lists. At our last meeting 

 one member had twenty-six species. The number of species observed by the 

 class is forty-three. It has been a great surprise that the pupils could so easily 

 see and hear such a large number of species. 



One member saw a Junco with nesting material in its bill, and later in the 

 season I saw and heard the Junco singing its simple trill. A pair of White- 

 breasted Nuthatches nested near my home and brought their three babies to 

 the winter feeding-station. 



The lessons in the School Department are greatly enjoyed by the class. 

 They are now learning the one about types of nests. The second year's work 

 has started well, fifteen children being enrolled at the second meeting. 



This report tells nothing of the joy of the children over each new species, 

 nor of my own in the class as a whole. Some of the members are looking for- 

 ward to years of work together. — Agnes M. Learned, Hudson, Mass. 



[From the Clinton Daily Item the following description of the reasons for the 

 organization of this Junior Class is taken. The article, together with the teacher's 

 letter, brings out several points of distinct value: First, the formation of the Society as a 

 natural and spontaneous outgrowth from a Sunday-school class in which a live interest 

 in nature had been awakened, is distinctly unusual and wholly to be commended. Second, 

 the exhibition- held in the children's room in the church, to which "interested friends" 

 were invited who "examined carefully the work of the children,'" is an example of pains- 

 taking, concrete work, individually helpful and rewarding to teacher and pupil alike. 

 Third, the value of weekly bird- walks with individual lists not only taken and kept, but 

 compared in the class, is brought out. Fourth, the joy and comradeship of this Junior 

 Audubon Society, and the desire of many of its members to continue bird-study, are 

 evidently a natural outcome of sympathetic teaching and willing working. — A. H. W.] 



THE CHICKADEE 



There's a little bird singing up in the tree, 



"Chickadee — Chickadee— Chickadee — dee." 



He wears a black cap and has a black throat, 



The rest of him's grey. Can you hear his clear note? 



He does not keep still very long, you may know, 



And he keeps hopping 'round, in the rain or the snow. 



He's happy all day, if warm or if cold; 



He comes near the house, but is not very bold. 



He gets very tame if you treat him just right. 



And will stay near your house from morning 'till night. 



— By a member of the Hudson Junior Bird Class, 

 Bessie McCulloch, VIII Grade. 



