comstock] A GRADED COURSE IN BIRD STUDY 155 



During the winter when frequent observation is impracticable 

 the time should be given to the study of bird families. The fly- 

 catchers, vireos, swallows, thrushes, sparrows, and wrens should 

 be studied. As far as possible, outlines of the members of each 

 family should be painted in water colors. A discussion of one of 

 these families is excellent material for an exercise in English 

 composition. 



In the spring there should be prizes or honors given to those 

 seeing the greatest number of returning and migrating birds. 

 There should also be prizes or honors given to those who saw them 

 first. The rules for the competition should be, first, a description 

 of the bird seen, sufficiently full for identification must be given; 

 second, the locality where seen and the action of the bird described; 

 third, it must be reported as soon as possible afterwards. There 

 should be an umpire appointed; some one who knows the birds of 

 the region should be chosen so that he will be able to decide upon 

 difficult points. There should also be kept a school calendar 

 which will show the results of the competition day by day. 



An active bird club with short sessions once a week at school will 

 stimulate the field observations greatly. 



SEVENTH GRADE 



The keynote of the work of this year should be the economic 

 value of birds and their protection. This is the year in most 

 schools when manual training is begun and the making of bird 

 houses and feeding tables should be a part of it. There should be 

 intelligent study put upon the construction of bird houses. The 

 habits of each bird species should be known in order to make a 

 nesting box for it that will be practical. After the boxes have been 

 constructed they should be put up in proper places and at proper 

 heights from the ground. 



Feeding tables and bird fountains should be designed so that the 

 birds may frequent them in safety. Cats are learning that feeding 

 stations and bird fountains placed low upon the ground are excel- 

 lent hunting grounds for them. Barbed wire and wire netting 

 may be used to ward off the cats to some degree. 



Bird Lore suggests the following competitions with or without 

 prizes for: i. The greatest number of bird houses for different 

 species of birds. 2. The school or the room having the largest 

 number of clippings in a birds' scrap book. 3. The best method of 



