94 LESSON ON THE ELM IN WINTER, BY MABEL A. JEPSON. 



female bird, for she builds the nest almost entirely herself, lays a foundation 

 of stubble and makes that into a cupshape, then she puts in some mud, this 

 she pats with her breast, turning around and around in order to keep it cup- 

 shape. She lays from two to five eggs at a time, they usually lay four. 



The song sparrow has a chestnut-brown back, a grayish- white breast, 

 with a dark spot under the throat. They are distinguished by this spot from 

 the other sparrows. The song sparrow builds two or three nests in a season. 

 The first one is built in the field because there it will be sheltered from the 

 cold wind, for he builds very early in the season. The second nest is built 

 in the hedges where it will be shaded, and where people will not see it. 

 He always makes a very loose one, usually of sticks, grass and horse hair. 



The vesper sparrow is lighter colored than the song sparrow and has no 

 spot on his breast, but has two white tail feathers. He builds in the stub- 

 ble fields. 



LESSON ON THE ELM IN WINTER IN A NINTH GRADE, 

 HIGHLAND SCHOOL, SOMERVILLE, MASS. 



BY 



Mabel A. Jepsoist. 



The following paper is one of a set written by the 

 pupils in answer to questions upon trees in winter published 

 in the February number of Nature Study, page 22. The 

 questions were written upon the board by the teacher, and 

 were, in almost all cases, correctly answered. 



Elm Tree, by Ethel Ntjte, Age 14. 



The form of the elm tree is straight, and branching or feathery at the 

 top. The branches grow upwards and outwards, or in acute-angles from the 

 trunk. The elm is very tall and slender. The twigs droop at their extrem- 

 ities and they are very numerous. 



There is a difference in color between the trunk, branches, and twigs. 

 The twigs are lighter in color than the trunk or branches. The yearly growth 

 of the twigs can be distinguished because of their color ; and there are rings 

 on the twigs which show how old they are. 



The latest growth of the twig is different in color from the older growth . 



The buds are large, are oval shape, and are covered with scales, so that 

 the birds cannot find the buds. The scales which cover, the buds are not 

 very plain. The terminal buds, or leaf buds at the end of the twigs, are 

 single and pointed. The elm tree bark is rough and in grooves. 



