PREFACE. 



This book was written to assist teachers in developing 

 more fully than the limited space of a suggestive course of 

 study would allow, the nature work laid out in the course of 

 study for city and town schools of Indiana. Two objects in 

 the nature study are kept constantly in mind; first, to arouse 

 and cultivate the habit of observation, and second, to im- 

 press the facts thus acquired upon the mind. Mr. Hershman 

 recognizes the truth that children have a deep, strong, in- 

 stinctive love for all things that live and all things that 

 support life. 



From a close, personal acquaintance with the author 

 for more than twenty years, I know that this book is the 

 outgrowth of a rich, varied and thoughtful experience with 

 child nature and the nature through which the child lives. 

 It may be said that while this book is written from the sci- 

 entific side, it is pedagogically correct, and more, it has a 

 freshness of spirit that is in itself one of the most potent 

 factors in education. 



"He gave us eyes to see these, 

 And lips that we might tell 

 How great is God Almighty, 

 Who hath made all things well." 



D. M. GBETING. 

 Indianapolis, Ind., October, 1898. 



