would it go in the winter time? Did

Where are the canary's eyes? Shape, color? How many lids? How many lids have your eyes?

Has the canary a nose? Any ears? What does the canary eat with? Tell something about the bill. Why Why is it hard? Does the canary chew the seeds? (Carefully open the mouth of the canary, or tell the children that it has no teeth. It would add greatly to the children's interest and knowledge if the entire alimentary tract of some larger bird could be shown. An examination of the gizzard would lead them to infer why cuttle-bone or sand is kept in the cage.)

What does the canary drink? How does he drink? Could you drink in that way? Could the cat? The horse?

How does the canary keep himself clean? How does he bathe? What does he do when he comes out of the water? What does he use as a comb? Where does he get his oil?

What noises does the canary make? Do you like to hear him sing? Did you ever know of a canary that did not sing? (It might be well right here to tell the children about the male and female bird; nor would it be impossible to raise a little family of canaries in the school room.)

Why do we sometimes put a paper, over the cage? Could the canary live out of doors in the summer time? In

you ever hear about birds going South for the winter? Do you know of any birds that do not go South for the winter? What keeps them warm? What do they eat?

This will serve as a type-lesson for the pigeon, dove, parrot, duck and hen. An outlay of five dollars brought to a certain city school of twenty classes the live birds and the food for a two months' study. The lessons brought out clearly the characteristic features of perchers, scratchers, and swimmers.

The Sparrow-English sparrows find no objection to crowded streets. They eat all kinds of vegetable food and are especially fond of the halfdigested seeds in horse-droppings; and I have counted as many as ten on the pavement below the noon feed-bag. Any one can get near enough to them to observe the difference in marking of the male and female. Note the cone-like beak; the characteristic feet of the perchers-three slender toes in front and one behind. The young are numerous here in New York in late May and early June. Any bright boy will bring in a sparrow's nest.

There is a general prejudice against sparrows, even among teachers, but since it is the only bird that can be studied in its habitat, it would seem best, on the scale of things elementary, for us to get what we can out of it. The sparrow is the only bird I have ever seen on Manhattan Island south of Stuyvesant Park.

In the following pages a few illustrations are given of the treatment of a few familiar types of plants and animals, which, after full study, may be later used for instructive comparison with similar objects of the same family or group.

Instead of studying carelessly a great number and variety of specimens, it is deemed better to observe more carefully, and during a longer period a few well-chosen types, and to use these later as the basis for interesting comparison with others of like character.

THE OAK TREE.

During the school life of many children, there is frequent opportunity for observing the trees and woods. One of the most common and valuable of our native forest trees is the oak. To observe the life and changes of this tree with the varying seasons and from year to year, and to study its services to man will bring out many fundamental ideas in the life both of plants and of man.

A cluster of these trees stood on the campus of the school, where the children throughout their school life might observe them. It makes little difference at what time of the year we begin the study of such a group of trees. In May time the delicate leaves. and blossoms show themselves, and for several weeks we may visit these trees to observe the rapid changes in growth. A little later the leaves be

gin to take on the bright green of summer, and the numerous insects which feed upon the leaves begin to show the effects of their work. The gall-nuts are found upon the leaves later on, and, more than almost any other trees, the oaks are found to be the nesting place of insects, as beetles, Hies and moths as well as the home of squirrels and birds.

The rich colors of autumn are very marked on the oak trees, and by studying the different varieties of oaks we shall find great variety of coloring. The scarlet oak, for example, has as striking color as any of the forest trees. The persistence with which the old leaves cling to the trees in winter time is in strong contrast to the other forest trees.

It is known that the group of oak trees mentioned above are about 45 years old. Let the children measure their trunks a few feet from the ground and determine the circuit and diameter. Let them also find some means of determining the height of some of these trees and the spread of their branches. These measurements may be later compared with those of larger oak trees in the forest. It is well also to estimate the age of the largest forest trees and compare that with the age of the oldest men in the town or neighborhood. The younger children enjoy a picnic under the oak trees, and the little ones make good use of the cups and saucers furnished

by the trees. It is observed sometimes that the oak trees are very crooked and gnarled. There must be something in the mode of building and branching which explains this.

When going into the woods the children enjoy collecting the bright colored oak leaves which they bring home and use for decoration. This may lead easily to a study of the varying forms and sizes of the leaves. Sometimes the leaves of the young oak shoots are nearly a foot in length. The different kinds of trees show marked differences in the shape of the leaves and in the forms of their lobes.

It is of much interest to observe the rings of growth in a cross-section of an oak tree. The narrow rings show the slow growth as compared with other trees, like the ash or maple. It is well to count the rings and thus determine approximately the age of the tree. It is found by handling that the wood is dense, tough and heavy.

In the same neighborhood several varieties of oak are often found, such as the white oak, the red oak and their varieties. By enquiry also it will be found that the different kinds are used for different purposes according to their value for lumber, fuel, posts, or for ornamental purposes.

2. One of the most interesting lessons furnished by the oak is found by watching the germination of the acorns. In the spring time one will often find the acorns under an oak tree sprouting. If some of the acorns are dropped in a garden soil and covered an inch or two, they will furnish excellent specimens for study in the class. A strong tap-root is seen descending into the earth and a vigorous stem rises toward the light. The

rich food store of the acorn produces a strong and rapid growth. For the children to observe this closely for a few days or weeks is to give them a very clear notion of the germination of seeds.

It has been observed in some countries where evergreen forests have been cleared away, that young oaks have sprung up. And where oak forests are cultivated it is customary to plant them among young evergreen trees, where they are protected until the young shoots are well started. In the earliest stages of the growth of young trees they are delicate and need protection from larger trees. The acorns are also oftentimes scattered by the squirrels, which thus greatly aid in planting the forests.

3. When the young leaves of the oak trees first appear in the spring time, the discovery of the two kinds of flowers, the pistillate and the staminate, furnishes an interesting lesson for the children. The little green buds of the pistillate flower are easily overlooked. The long delicate catkins of the staminate blossoms are noticeable and resemble the similar catkins on the hard-wood trees. The growth of the young acorns from the little green buds should be followed through the season. The acorns on different kinds of oaks differ greatly in size, shape and the cup-covering. It will interest the children to make a collection of these if the oak trees are abundant. An examination of the rich food matter stored in the acorr and a discussion of the uses to which it is put, will furnish a good lesson. In the forested districts children are familiar with the fact that hogs feed and fatten upon this kind of food, and in the fall and early winter the oak forests are of much value for

feeding swine. Some of the oak trees have much more abundant crops than others. The oak woods in some parts of the United States furnish food for herds of swine. The oak forests in some parts of Europe fur nish abundant mast for the feeding of swine. There is also a sweet acorn in southern France which has been much used, in times of scarcity, as food for the people. In this country the squirrels and wild turkeys, together with other wild animals and birds, feed upon acorns. Those who hunt the wild turkey often look for them under the oak trees.

4. The chief value of the oak woods is found in the use of the lumber obtained from oak trees for constructing houses and barns, bridges, and furniture, and especially in the fine interior finish of the best houses. It has a beautiful grain, especially in the quarter-sawed oak, and is extremely hard and durable. Some of the furniture and oak finishing of ancient houses in England is hundreds of years old. In some cases, perhaps, a thousand years. In ship building, also, the oak on account of its strength. and toughness and durability in water has been much used. The tough oak knees are of great value in framing wooden ships. It is well to have the children examine closely the oak furniture and oak finishing in houses so as to discriminate it easily from other kinds of woods. In the making of wagons, other vehicles, of casks and barrels, the oak wood is much employed. In many places in the country also the children are familiar with the use of oak wood in stoves and fire-places, and with its superiority for heating purposes over elm, basswood and other softer woods.

It may be well also to notice the

bark of the tree somewhat closely and call up the fact that the oak bark is very important in connection with the tanning of leather, which is common in different parts of this country. Mention may be made also of the cork oak in Spain and of its uses. As children advance through the intermediate grades in their geography studies, they will become acquainted with the wide range of the hard wood forests in North America and Europe. The live oaks in the south of the United States will be found interesting on account of their evergreen character and their great value for lumber.

The oak is also of much value as an ornamental tree and is much found in yards and parks, where it reaches sometimes a splendid growth. Some oak trees in the United States have been famous in the history of the country. The large full grown oaks are imposing on account of their strength and size. Near Charleston, South Carolina, an oak tree is described 45 feet in circuit, and in England several ancient oaks have been described which are still larger. It is difficult to determine how long the oak tree lives. A number of oak trees in England are said to have beer standing there a thousand years ago in Saxon times. It seems probable that the full life of an oak tree extends to several hundred years, and that it is thus one of the best types of stability and long life.

COMPARISONS.

It is evident that the study of the oak tree is not only an instructive lesson in botany, and is one of the great types of vegetable growth, but also that it touches the life of man in a great variety of important ways. As the child grows older, advancing in