BIRDS 241 



birds on the pond- or stream-banks, or in the marshes 

 and wet meadows, although a few, hke the upland-plover, 

 curlews, and godwits are common on the dry upland pas- 

 tures. Distinguish the ground-birds from the birds of the 

 shrubs and hedge-rows, and these again from the strictly 

 forest-birds. Find the special haunts of swallows and king- 

 fishers. Which are Lhe shy birds driven constantly deeper 

 into the wild places, or being exterminated by the advance 

 of man? Which birds do not retreat, but even find an 

 advantage in man's seizure of the land, obtaining food 

 from his fields and gardens .■" 



Make a map on large scale of the locality of the school, 

 showing on it the topographic features of the region, such 

 as streams, ponds, marshes, hills, woods, springs, wild 

 pastures, etc., also roads and paths, and such landmarks 

 as schoolhouses, country churches, etc. On this map 

 indicate the local distribution of the birds, as determined 

 by the data gradually gathered; mark favorite nesting- 

 places of various species, roosting-places of crows and 

 blackbirds, feeding-places, and bathing- and drinking- 

 pjaces of certain kinds, the e.xact spots of finding rare 

 visitants, rare nests, etc. 



As already mentioned, many of the birds of a locality 

 are "migrants," that is, they breed farther north, but 

 spend the winter in more southern latitudes. These 

 migrants pass through the localit)^ twice each year, going 

 North in the spring and South in the autumn. They are 

 much more likely to be observed during the spring migra- 

 tion than in the fall, as the flight South is usually more 

 hurried. The observation of the migration of birds is very 

 interesting, and much can be done by beginning students. 

 Notes should be made recording the first time each spring 

 a migrating species is seen, the time when it is most 

 abundant, and the last time it is seen the same spring. 

 Similar records should be made showing the movements 



