OUT IN THE RAIN 283 
Study 41. Out in the Rain 
This is a study for the day when raincoats and rubbers 
and umbrellas have to be taken afield, and when the coming 
on of a heavy shower puts an end to other work. Then, 
instead of fleeing indoors, it will be well to stay out and see 
some of the interesting things that go on in the rain. 
The program of work for the day of rain will vary with 
time and circumstances. Therefore, we shall have tobe 
content with a very few general suggestions. 
First, before the storm breaks, during the lull when the 
“‘thunderheads”’ are mounting the sky, it will be a good time 
to observe the increased activity of certain animals, the 
preparatory movements of certain flowers, the interesting 
behavior of the barnyard fowls, and, above all, to listen to 
the anticipatory chorus of frogs and tree-toads, and birds 
and crickets and other animals that can not keep still. 
Then, when the rains comes, the water-shedding power of 
different kinds of foliage may readily be tested, if members 
of the class will step under trees of different kinds and wait, 
with raised umbrellas, and note how long it takes for the rain- 
drops filtering through the foliage to come through in suf- 
ficient numbers tomakea continuous patter, with noindividual 
drops distinguishable. One may test the way in which any 
tree standing in the open disposes of the water that falls 
upon it, by walking under it over all the area it covers and 
listening to the sounds of the drops falling about his head, on 
the stretched umbrella. 
When things are soaked with rain and the water is gather- 
ing in rills, there are many things that may then be observed 
with unusual advantage. The clouding of the streams 
with inflowing silt will be very obvious. The burden the 
streams are carrying may be easily demonstrated. It may 
be tested by dipping a glass of running water and letting the 
water settle to see the sediment; by placing one’s fingers 
