b4 BULLETIN 305, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
ANIMALS. 
Remew and continued work.—Continue the study of birds. Watch 
those of the different groups classified according to their manner of 
catching insects, and note what the members of each group are eating. 
Do some of them continue to look for imsects and msect eggs in the 
crevices of bark and under bud scales? Encourage the birds to visit — 
school grounds by placing lunch remnants, broken grain, scraps of 
meat and suet at places convenient for them and out of reach of cats. 
Continue the study of wild mammals that provide their food during — 
the winter months. What are rabbits, rats, opossums, and squirrels 
eating this month? Where do they get their food? At what time 
do they go forth in search of food ? 
Offer some reward to the member of the class that first finds a wood- 
chuck or groundhog burrow. Visit the burrow with the class to— 
become familiar with the home conditions of this interesting mammal. | 
Employ the following outline in a study of the house mouse this 
month: | 
(1) What is the color of the mouse? Is the color an advantage? 
(2) What is the nature of the coat of the mouse? 
(3) The tail—length compared with that of the body; its use? 
(4) Compare the front and hind limbs; front and hind feet. Can it climb the > 
side of a wall? How? 
(5) Can the mouse see well? Hear well? Smell well? 
(6) What are the uses of the teeth? The whiskers? What kind of teeth has 
the mouse? 
(7) What kind of food does the mouse eat? How does he get it? Steal? 
(8) Where does the mouse make its home? Of what material? How do baby 
mice appear? Can they see when quite young? 
(9) Mice are great travelers. How do they get from place to place? 
(10) How many kinds of mice do you know? 
Practical work.—Make observations with birds and mammals as 
suggested above. Make a trip to the home of a groundhog. Study 
it and take notes. Capture a mouse, imprison it in a large-mouthed 
bottle and study it as suggested in the outline. Keep records of alli 
observations and facts learned. 
Oorrelations.—Write stories about the home of the weodchuck and 
the habits of the mouse. 
Geography: Compare the homes of the woodchuck and the house 
mouse as to location. 
History: Read ‘‘Introduction,’ Farmers’ Buls. 369, How to 
Destroy Rats, and 670, Field Mice as Farm and Orchard Pests. 
FIFTH GRADE. 
PLANTS. 
Continued work.—Noting the appearance of familiar trees at this 
season and comparing their appearance with that of former mont 
furnish interesting and instructive observation exercises. 
