The Audubon Societies 317 



External Structure. — Distribution of feather-covering; plume and contour feathers; 

 uses of the feathers. Bill; shape and uses. Feet and legs; number of toes; weak 

 and strong feet. Senses; sight; smell; hearing. 



Internal Structure. — Very little beyond a few general facts. Hollow bones; size of mus- 

 cles attached to breastbone; wishbone; temperature of blood; teeth as gizzard. 



Migration. — Something of the theories of migration, and the why, how and when of 

 migration. 



Nest-building. — Kinds of nests; shape, color, size of eggs, and their meaning; length 

 of incubation; praecocial and altricial nestlings; method of feeding, together 

 with care of young; tricks of mother-birds to protect young. 



Molting. — How? When? Causes of change of color in plumage. 



Food. — Very important. Kinds of food; methods of obtaining food; economic value of 

 birds. 



Esthetic Value. — Shape; plumage; song. (Flight might be added.) 



Bird-Protection. — Enemies and dangers; methods of protection. 



At present the time set aside for nature-study means, in many schools, just so much 

 extra time from other studies, owing to the teacher's lack of preparation in nature- 

 study. A short summer course at some of the well-known schools, such as Storr's, 

 Amherst, Cold Spring Harbor or Cornell, would profit any teacher of nature-study greatly. 



The exhibit of bird-houses loaned by Mr. Borklund and Mr. Haney, to illustrate the 

 work which may be accomplished in manual training when correlated with nature- 

 study, the Von Berlepsch nesting-boxes and automatic food-bell, the traveling-collec- 

 tions of the Museum, together with the books loaned by publishers, and the colored 

 wall-charts and pictures, interested all who found time to examine them. Special 

 thanks are due Mr. Bowdish for arranging this exhibit. 



Another year, it may be possible to hold a Nature-Study Conference on a larger 

 and more complete scale. It is hoped that teachers will send to this department ques- 

 tions or suggestions concerning the teaching of nature-study. — A. H. W. 



Suggestions for Teacher and Pupil 



The English Sparrow is now our commonest winter bird in many parts 

 of the country. It is not a handsome bird, but it is clever. Not gifted with 

 song, like our native Song Sparrow, the English Sparrow nevertheless makes 

 many musical notes, besides its querulous call. Few birds belonging to the seed- 

 eaters have learned to eat as many different kinds of food as this Sparrow, 

 and few birds of any kind have learned to build their nests in such a variety 

 of places. 



Now that we have the English Sparrow with us for good or ill, why not make 

 a careful study of it, and compare notes? 



Learn to tell the male from the female and the young birds; the kinds of 

 food which it eats in your locality; the nesting-materials it uses; the number 

 of times a year it nests; the places where it builds its nest; the amount of cold 

 it can stand; its preference for city or country; its relations to other birds, 

 including poultry; its call-notes and notes imitating other birds; how it is 

 affected by molt, and any other observations which might aid us in deciding 

 how much good or ill it is actually doing. 



