464 NATURE-STUDY 



plucked seal? Read about the whale "fishery." Where 

 are the whales caught ? What methods used ? Why do we 

 catch whales — what do we get from them? Treatment of 

 the blubber, etc. (General: 33, 34, 15, 17, 25, 26, 20, 30.) 

 For seals and whales see the U. S. Fish Commission reports.) 



Birds:* Mourning dove, cuckoo, starling, yellow-headed 

 blackbird, cowbird, chipping-sparrow. More detailed de- 

 scription of the habit, food, structure, coloration, adapta- 

 tions, uses or injury of each than in previous grades. Ob- 

 serve the returning birds. On field trips note the songs 

 and calls and try to recognize birds by these. Try to imitate. 

 Note where birds of different kinds congregate. Assign 

 special birds easily observed to individuals or groups of chil- 

 dren, for special observation through the spring. Keep a 

 record of observations, and write up in illustrated essay. 

 Make rustic or ornamental bird houses * and put up. Let 

 the class join in planning and making a colony house for 

 martins, and set it up on the school or a pole in the school- 

 yard. Protect the birds. Do not steal the eggs. What 

 do the game laws say about non-game birds ? What do the 

 signs in the parks say about harming birds? Birds should 

 be allowed to live so that all may enjoy them. (113, 108, 

 102, 117.) Observe Bird Day. (107.) 



Comparative study and classification of Scratching Birds 

 — hen,* turkey,* Guinea fowl, peacock,* bobwhite,* ruffed- 

 grouse, prairie hen. Brief study of the game birds in this 

 list. Compare habits, food, feet,* scratching, bills, etc. 

 Refer to domestication. Value. (60, 246 poultry bulletins, 

 99, 479, 61.) Observe and list the birds in an orchard, in a 

 garden, in a village, in a city park, in the fields and pastures, 

 in a swamp, on the water, (116, 118, 100, etc. See page 85.) 



