Bird Study 87 



the pupils to observe the coloring and markings of a bird accurately and 

 describe them clearly. This is the best of training for later work with 

 the wild birds. 



Observations — i. How many kinds of birds do you find in a flock of 

 English sparrows ? 



2 . The ones with the black cravat are naturally the men of the 

 family, while their sisters, wives and mothers are less ornamented. 

 Describe in your note-book or from memory the colors of the cock sparrow 

 as follows: Top of head; sides of the head; the back; the tail; the 

 wings; wing bars; throat and upper breast; lower breast and under 

 parts. 



3. Describe the hen sparrow in the same manner and note the 

 difference in markings between the two. Are the young birds, when they 

 first fly, like the father or the mother? 



4. Compare the English sparrow with the chippy and describe the 

 differences in size and color. 



5. Is the tail when the bird is not flying, square across the end or 

 notched ? 



6. What is the shape of the beak? For what sort of food is this 

 shaped beak meant? 



7. What is the food of the English sparrows and where do they find 

 it? Describe the actions of a flock feeding in the yard or street. Are 

 the English sparrows kindly or quarrelsome in disposition? 



8. Why do the English sparrows stay in the North during the coldest 

 of winters? Do they winter out in the country or in villages? 



9. Describe by observation how they try to drive away the robins or 

 other native birds. 



10. Describe the nest of this sparrow. Of what material is it made? 

 How is it supported? How sheltered? Is it a well-built nest? 



11. Describe the eggs? How many broods are raised a year? What 

 kind of food do the parents give the nestlings? 



12. If you have ever seen these sparrows do anything interesting 

 describe the circumstance ? 



13. In what ways are these birds a nuisance to us? 



14. How much of English sparrow talk do you understand? 



15. How can we build bird-boxes so that the English sparrows will 

 not try to take possession of them ? 



Supplementary reading — "A Street Troubadour," in Lives of the 

 Hunted, Thompson Seton. First Book of Birds, Miller, p. 81. "Bliz- 

 zard" and "Three Sparrows that live in the House," from True Bird 

 Stories, Miller. 



Do not tire the child with questions; lead him to question you, instead. Be 

 sure, in any case, that he is more interested in the subject than in the questions 

 about the subject. 



