A GRADED COURSE OF NATURE-STUDY 449 



Spring 

 Animals. 



Birds: Keep a calendar or illustrated booklet of the re- 

 turning birds. Observe and identify new ones. Swifts * 

 (distinguish from swallows), the different kinds of wood- 

 peckers,* brown thrush, wood thrush,* redwinged black- 

 bird,* summer yellow-bird,* kingfisher, whip-poor-will. 

 Study the main points of structure necessary for identifica- 

 tion, peculiar habits, adaptations of feet,* bills,* etc., and the 

 good or harm done by the birds. (H, 95, etc., 107, etc.) 



Emphasize the beauty, song, the need of protection. Have 

 children make and put up houses or boxes for wrens, blue- 

 birds, and martins. Observe Bird Day. Read Longfel- 

 low's "Birds of Killingworth." Refer to protective laws, their 

 purpose. Develop a desire to obey them. (Chap. X, 113, 

 108, 109, 117, 478.) 



Make economic studies of swallows, robins, woodpeckers 

 (different kinds), blackbird, crow, English sparrow, hawks 

 (different kinds). Observe as far as possible the food of 

 these birds, read about them, conclude as to their useful- 

 ness or harmfulness. Which should be protected? (120, 

 246 "Common Birds; "Agricultural Year-books; 95, etc., 

 115, H.) 



Insects: Observe return of insect life. Note bees and 

 flies in the earliest flowers. Observe them poUinating in 

 the orchard. Suppose there were no insects here, could we 

 raise fruit? (200, 156, 158, 154; 238, page 289.) 



Observe the cutworms in the school-garden and at home. 

 Look up remedies. (136, 132, 229.) Why is it a good 

 thing to have the robins and toads in the garden? What 

 are cutworms? (132, 136, etc.) (Toad: 24, 246 — "The 



