32 Joint Bulletin 1 



The bird calendar, like the flower calendar, affords the easiest 

 method of identifying any specimen observed in the field and learning 

 the main points regarding it. It is of special value to the public 

 schools, and we hope it may be referred to more often by visitors from 

 other parts of the country as its significance comes to be understood. 



NATURE WORK IN BENNINGTON LIBRARY. 



Miss Josephine M. Keeler. 



In the early spring and summer many small parties met at the 

 Bennington Free library and went bird hunting, Dr. and Mrs. Ross. 

 Mrs. Aiken, Miss Alden and Mrs. Donnelly being, perhaps, the most 

 enthusiastic. All during the spring and summer we had on the 

 bulletin board, in the children's room, pictures of the birds which had 

 come that week and were still with us, the bird case containing all 

 kinds of stuffed birds, being tagged, so that now the children can name 

 them without looking at the typewritten slips. These changes were 

 made with the help of Dr. Ross, one of the library trustees. 



In connection with our story-hour, at the library, we have had 

 two Saturdays devoted to our "Winter Birds", and "Our Native Birds". 

 These talks were given and illustrated by Mrs. Aiken. 



The exhibition of field and garden flowers was a particularly in- 

 teresting part of our nature work. It was continued wholly by volun- 

 tary contributions, and aroused an unusual amount of interest. The 

 number of specimens brought in reached 149, and they were all named 

 in the library. 



This is the first year that any attempt has been made to devote 

 a corner to nature work, but it seems to have established itself perma- 

 nently, hence, we hope to be able to give a better report next year. 



A FILIX-MAS HYBRID. 



E. J. Winslow of Auburndale, Mass., writes to Mr. Underwood re- 

 garding certain ferns from G. L. Kirk's station for Filix-mas near 

 Brandon as follows: — 



"I think your 4063 D is Dryopteris Filix-mas x marginals though 

 the cutting and form of the pinnules does not indicate that hybrid. 

 The form of the frond and of the pinna?, position of sori, color and tex- 



