CHAPTER XVI 



NATURE STUDY IN THE AUTUMN 



Special prominence should be given to nature 

 study in the last two weeks of September and all 

 of October. Full-grown plants, flowers, fruit, and 

 an almost infinite variety of insects may be ob- 

 tained. The four-footed animals are busily inter- 

 esting. Aside from the birds (to which chief atten- 

 tion is usually given in May and June), all out- 

 door interests are now at their best. 



During September, the schools have resumed 

 their usual regularity of exercises ; the warm 

 weather still continues, with a clearness of air 

 that makes one grateful for the pleasure of mere 

 existence ; the young folks retain the enthusiasm 

 of the experiences during the long vacation, and 

 they still have the accumulated wealth of outdoor 

 spirits. 



By way of contrast, the newness and awakening 

 of spring, the bursting of buds, the germination of 

 seeds, the growth of the early spring flowers, and 



the coming of the birds, it may be maintained, 



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