THE LITTLE BROOK GONE DRY 311 



aster. Such a meadow glade is sure to be the home of many- 

 little rodents, such as meadowmice and shrews. If we look 

 among the grass about the flower-clumps, we will find their 

 shallow runways at the surface of the ground. 



Study 46. A Brook Gone Dry 



This is a study for a dry season in midsummer. The brook 

 chosen for it should be flowing through water-holding soils, 

 and it should be one that is ordinarily a "living" brook, but 

 that has succumbed to the drouth. 



The program of work will consist of a survey of a portion 

 of the brook-bed and its borders, of sufficient extent to in- 

 clude typical portions, such as riffles and pools and miniature 

 flood-plains. Brookside plants are to be observed, as well as 

 all signs of animal life ; also the more obvious relations o*f the 

 water supply and the brook to different levels of adjacent 

 fields. Observe what lands of plants have succumbed to the 

 drouth and where situated. 



The record of this study may consist of: 



1 . A sketch-map of the portion of the brookside studied, 

 showing location of pools, riffles, rock ledges, flood-plains, 

 leaf -drifts, etc., and showing also the principal natural plant 

 formations by the brookside. 



2. Lists of plants and animals found in the more typical 

 situations, with notes on their condition as affected by the 

 drouth. List all plants found in the brook-bed, whether 

 they belong there or whether they be chance seedlings of 

 land plants springing up in unsuitable places. 



