THE SONG-BIRDS OF THE FARM 221 
manners toward man and toward each other. A few, like the 
crow and the jay, are so well marked as not to be mistaken. 
The habit of running head downward along the bark of a tree 
at once marks a bird as either a nuthatch or acreeper. The 
songs are perfectly specific, and will often lead the careful 
observer to the bird he is wishing to see. There is no need of 
attempting to describe differences here; for a morning in the 
field with the birds is worth more than all the descriptions. 
Study 31. Song-birds of the Farm 
This study is intended primarily for those who do not know 
the local song-birds at sight.* An instructor who knows 
them is assumed; yet the student working alone may easily 
do what is here outlined and identify his birds with the aid 
of some of the excellent bird books now generally available. 
Field glasses (or opera glasses) while not absolutely necessary 
will be a great aid in field work on birds. Dry weather will 
be desirable, and a shift of meeting time to an early morning 
hour (when birds are most in evidence) may be advantageous. 
Prepared bird-skins may be used by the instructor in point- 
ing out recognition characters. 
The program of work will consist of a short trip made 
quietly along some woodsy lane where birds congregate, and 
across upland and lowland meadows and by a willow-bor- 
dered stream, observing the different species of song-birds, 
one by one, as opportunity offers. Careful observations will 
be needed to obtain the data called for by the table out- 
lined below. 
*For such members of the class as know the birds well, the instructor 
may assign other work, such as intensive specific observations on some 
one species of bird temporarily abundant and not too well known; 
observations on such matters as its haunts and nesting habits, food and 
feeding habits, voice and social habits, enemies and warning habits and 
mode ot escape,etc. Or, better, such extended individual work as is 
outlined in Optional Study 6 on page 229. 
