The Audubon Societies 105 



[It is an encouraging feature of the School Department to receive so many welcome 

 reports of bird-study in schools successfully and profitably carried on to the enjoyment 

 of both teachers and pupils. From time to time, in these columns, suggestions are made 

 or criticisms offered as to the value of bird-charts and pictures. Do not forget that in 

 bird- and nature-study the most important thing is to learn to observe at first-hand. The 

 living bird, tree, or flower in its native habitat is the real bird, tree, or flower, the one we 

 want to become more and more familiar with and learn to love and understand and 

 cherish. 



Pictures and charts are valuable aids but they do not take one far in an actual 

 acquaintance with naturCjWhich is the basis of the nature-student's knowledge. Use them 

 then with discrimination, remembering their limitations. — A. H. W.] 



A PLAYLET FOR BIRD AND ARBOR DAY EXERCISES 

 TENNYSON'S BROOK (Sung) 



Beth. — [writing] The music of that brook makes a lovely setting for my paper on 

 Audubon, for birds always haunt a brook. [Aloud] John James Audubon was born near 

 New Orleans in 1780. (My! almost a century and a half ago!) When he was a very 

 tiny child, he tried to draw the birds he saw in the woods around him. His father was a 

 French naval officer, so of course he wanted his son to enter the navy and he had teachers 

 to prepare him for this career. His drawing-master set him to sketching horses' heads, 

 but John seized every opportunity to draw his beloved birds. Finally his father realized 

 that he could not be anything but an artist. Audubon painted his birds in their natural 

 colors and, what was just as important, in their natural positions, something that no 

 previous artist had ever done. Some of the greatest scholars in Europe and America 

 were his personal friends, and surely it is fitting that he should be the founder of the 

 society for the protection of birds. 



John. — [rushing in with egg in his hand] Sis, see this cunning little egg! I think it is 

 a Robin's. 



Beth. — Did you rob a bird's-nest? 



John. — No, I'm not that kind. I found it on the ground and thought you'd like it 

 for your Audubon Club meeting this afternoon. 



Beth. — John, you ought to do something to stop the destruction of birds. I saw a 

 number of boys with bean-shooters the other day, right here in this neighborhood. 



John. — Well, I do try to stop them, but. Sis, I think if they knew more about birds 

 they wouldn't be so cruel. 



Beth. — Well you can relieve them of a little of their ignorance. Tell them that 

 man would perish from the earth in seven years if it wasn't for the birds. 



John. — [rubbing head] That's pretty strong. How do you make that out? 



Beth. — Why, they eat the insects which destroy the food that the farmers plant 

 for us to eat. Birds have an enormous appetite; they eat much more than their own 

 weight. One bird alone eats hundreds of different kinds of insects, caterpillars, and 

 mosquitos. Here is a pamphlet [taking it up and reading from it] published by the 

 Department of Agriculture of the United States. Among other things it says that the 

 Cuckoo eats so many caterpillars that its stomach is lined with hairs; this bird also 

 eats beetles, spiders, and grasshoppers. 



Will. — That's all right, Beth. Everything you say is true, but boys are not the only 

 creatures cruel to birds. What about the 10,000,000 birds used in this country in one 

 season to decorate women's hats? And you know those most costly feathers which 

 ladies like to wear, called aigrettes, are taken from a beautiful bird called the White 



