received honorable
mention, and is here published by the kind permission of the
author, and of the Girls' Branch, and of Messrs. A. G. Spalding
& Brothers, publishers of the handbook in which the game first
appeared.

BIRD CATCHER

_10 to 60 players._

_Schoolroom; playground._

Two opposite corners are marked off at one end of the ground or room,
the one to serve as a nest for the birds and the other as a cage. A
mother bird is chosen, who takes her place in the nest. Two other
players take the part of bird catchers and stand midway between nest
and cage. If played in the schoolroom, the remaining players sit in
their seats; if in a playground, they stand beyond a line at the
farther end of the ground which is called the forest. All of these
players should be named for birds, several players taking the name of
each bird. The naming of the players will be facilitated by doing it
in groups. If in the class room, each row may choose its name, after
which the players should all change places, so that all of the robins
or orioles will not fly from the same locality.

The teacher calls the name of a bird, whereupon all of the players who
bear that name run from the forest to the nest, but the bird catchers
try to intercept them. Should a bird be caught by the bird catcher, it
is put in the cage, but a bird is safe from the bird catchers if it
once reaches the nest and the mother bird. The players should be
taught to make the chase interesting by dodging in various directions,
instead of running in a simple, straight line for the nest.

The distance of the bird catchers from the nest may be determined with
a little experience, it being necessary to place a handicap upon them
to avoid the too easy capture of the birds.

BLACK AND WHITE

_10 to 100 players._

_Gymnasium; playground; parlor; schoolroom._

One player is chosen as leader, the rest being divided into two equal
parties. Each player in one party should tie a handkerchief on the
left arm to indicate that he belongs to the Whites; those in the other
division are called the Blacks. The players stand around the ground
promiscuously, the Whites and Blacks being mingled indiscriminately.

The leader is provided with a flat disk which is white on one side and
black on the other, and preferably hung on a short string to
facilitate twirling the disk. He stands on a stool at one side or end
and twirls this disk, stopping it with