BARTON: TEACHERS’ SCHOOL OF SCIENCE. 
27 
The lessons were given at localities presenting varied types of 
environment,— marine, fluviatile, and terrestrial. Most of the local¬ 
ities were near Boston, while a few, as Beverly Bridge and Ipswich, 
were more distant. 
During the spring, in addition to the other work, especial atten¬ 
tion was directed to the local Amphibia, the more common species of 
which were exhibited, and to bird life. An introductory lecture on 
birds was given, and no less than 56 species, chiefly song birds, 
and several nests, were observed at the inland localities which were 
visited. The interest in bird life and the benefit to be derived from 
its study are so great that it may legitimately receive much atten¬ 
tion. In the autumn lessons, observation was specially directed to 
the sounds made by stridulating insects whose notes are as charac¬ 
teristic of this season as bird songs of the spring. As an aid a 
checklist of the New England species of this group was prepared 
and placed in the hands of the pupils. Other topics studied were 
the local distribution of animals in societies, and phases of animal 
life peculiar to the season such as the winter stages of the gypsy 
moth and the browntail moth. 
The field course in geology 1 under the charge of the Curator 
of the School, began on April 26, with an attendance of 20. The 
largest number present during the spring course was 100 and the 
smallest was 20. The average attendance was 40.1. For the 
autumn course the attendance varied between 50 and 25, with an 
average of 41.7. 
The first half of the lessons in the spring was devoted to a study 
of topographic forms, the second half to a study of rock structures. 
Most of the places visited were near Boston. One extended trip was 
made to Mount Holyoke and Mount Tom in the Connecticut river 
valley. This lesson takes a portion of three days and is a very val¬ 
uable one, as many geological features are there presented which 
are specially adapted for class instruction. 
The autumn lessons began a new course which will probably 
extend over about four years. This course has been very carefully 
revised, made systematic, and brought more fully up to date in its 
methods. Each locality is carefully selected as a type of the partic- 
1 This is not a Lowell Course, but is supported by the generosity of a friend 
-of the Society. 
