y their
study of the animals.

The results of their observations can be discussed in the class in
lessons of ten or fifteen minutes length. It may frequently be necessary
to re-assign the problems in order that the pupils may correct their
observations.

It is possible for the teacher or the pupils to bring to the school-room
certain of the animals, as the dog, cat, duck, hen, and the observations
may then be made by the whole class directly under the guidance of the
teacher.

REFERENCES

Crawford: _Guide to Nature Study._ Copp Clark Co., 90 cents.

Dearness: _How to Teach the Nature Study Course._ Copp Clark Co., 60
cents.

Shaler: _Domesticated Animals._ Scribners, $2.50.

Smith: _The Uses and Abuses of Domestic Animals._ Jarrold & Sons, 50
cents.

BIRDS

The chief aims in developing lessons on birds are:

1. To teach the children to recognize their bird neighbours, to love
them for their beauty, and sweet songs, and their sprightly ways.

2. To train the pupils to appreciate them for their usefulness in
destroying insect pests.

Many persons spend their lives surrounded by singing birds, yet they
never hear their songs. Many children see and hear the birds, but if
they have not been brought into sympathetic relation with them, they
never learn to appreciate them; on the contrary, their attitude becomes
one of indifference or of destructiveness. Too often, boys cruelly
destroy the nests and young and persecute the old birds with stone and
catapult. The cowardice of such acts should be condemned, but more
effective lessons may be taught through leading the children to find in
the birds assistants and companions that contribute to their material
progress and to their joy in life.

With these aims in view, the teacher will readily perceive that the most
effective work in bird study results from observing the living birds in
their natural environment. Field excursions are valuable for this, but
good results can seldom be attained when the class is large, for birds
are shy and will hide or fly away from the unusual excitement. Quietness
is absolutely necessary for success. Better results are obtained when
only one or two accompany the teacher. If the teacher selects a few who
are interested in birds, and there are always some pupils in every
school who are readily interested in bird study, these few can soon be
made sufficiently acquainted with the more common birds, so that they
will be able to point