THE BIRD STUDY BOOK 



surprise that a bird could find so many of these 

 choice morsels in so short a time. She had never 

 imagined that so many insects inhabited so small an 

 area as that to which the bird had confined its opera- 

 tions. "Very well," said the instructor, "suppose 

 all of you get down and see how many insects you can 

 find in five minutes." So while he held the watch all 

 proceeded to take part in a bug-hunting contest. In 

 this novel undertaking even the women of the class 

 displayed great zeal. When time was called it was 

 found that one student had a credit of fourteen, an- 

 other sixteen, a third nineteen, and one tall young 

 woman with glasses exhibited twenty-one insects in 

 the folds of her handkerchief. 



A stranger watching the actions of this band of 

 eager, early-rising teachers might have been puzzled 

 to determine what induced them to assemble at this 

 hour of the day for the evident purpose of watching 

 the habits and activities of small birds that the 

 ordinary person passes without notice. They were, 

 nevertheless, occupied in one of the most valu- 

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