downing] A SCHOOL OUTLINE 227 



many kindly acts. Crumbs thrown out at the door, a handful of 

 corn deposited weekly in the same spot, a few nuts left always on 

 the same stump, a crust of bread left every few days in the same 

 place in the woods will not only help develop a thoughtful care 

 for the unfortunate, but it will acquaint the child with the many 

 unfamiliar birds that will come to his door yard for food. It 

 will give him autobiographical sketches, unconsciously written in 

 the tracks in sand or snow, about the spot he may choose for his 

 beneficence. 



Where do the wild rabbits live ? Where do the squirrels live ? 

 What other familiar animals live in holes, in trees or the earth? 

 Let the children discover the homes of chipmunks, gophers, 

 ground hogs, musk rats or other animals, and watch their habits. 

 Perhaps something can be learned of the structure of these houses 

 and their uses as store houses for food, as well as places of re- 

 treat. This lesson adapts itself readily to a field trip. While go- 

 ing to a gopher field or a woodchuck's hole, the observations 

 called for in the early part of the lesson could be made. Then 

 while quietly seated waiting for the animal to come out of its 

 retreat questions may be asked to cover other points. Ernest 

 Ingersoll's Wild Life of Orchard and Field has some fascinating 

 chapters on these common rodents and their homes. 



Lesson X. Means of Protection. — When do cats, dogs 

 and horses shed their hair and why do they do it ? When do they 

 need their heaviest coat? Where do the animals with very thick 

 fur live? What are some of the animals whose fur man uses? 



When a dog chases a cat how does she defend herself? (See 

 Thompson Seton's Johnny Bear.) If a dog should run after a 

 squirrel how could the squirrel protect itself ? Could a cat escape 

 from a dog by flight? Could a rabbit run away from a dog? 

 Could it defend itself against a dog? How would it escape harm? 

 Could a horse run away from a troublesome dog? How could 

 a horse protect itself from a dog in another way than by flight? 



In answering the above questions probably horns, hoofs, 

 teeth and claws will be mentioned as weapons of defense. Name 

 other animals besides those above that use claws ; that use teeth 

 for defense ; or hoofs ; or horns. Can you think of any other 

 defensive structure besides horns, hoofs, teeth and claws? Do 

 all the deer have horns ? Which sheep have horns ? Why do 

 roosters have spurs when the hens have none? Can you think of 

 other animals in which the males are especially armed with means 

 of defense? Tell the story of the fight of the male to defend the 

 young or the females. Such stories are to be found in Robert's 



