ARROW

FIELD EXERCISES

In early March, when the streams are just beginning to break from
underneath the ice and spots of ground peep here and there through the
snow, assign to the pupils an exercise such as the following:

Watch for a small, gray-brown bird which perches near the top of a bush,
or small tree, and sings the "Tea-kettle Song".

Try to interpret the song in the words:

"Maids! Maids! Maids! Put on the tea-kettle, tea-kettle, tea-kettle,
tea-kettle, tea-kettle-ettle."

Is the song bright and cheerful or dull and gloomy? Does the bird sing
this song often?

Approach close to the bird. Are there any stripes or spots on its breast
or head?

Describe the flight of the bird from its perch, when it is disturbed.

_To the teacher._--It is possible for the pupils to distinguish the
song-sparrow by means of the above exercises. It is one of the first
birds to return in the spring, and, as it is a lusty singer, it will
attract the attention of all who are looking for birds. The dark brown
spot in the centre of the breast is a distinguishing mark, and the more
observant will find the three ashy-gray stripes on its head and the dark
line through the eye.

When disturbed, it does not rise into the air, but flies downward and
disappears with a swish of its tail. The nest is usually built on the
ground or in a low bush or tree. It is composed of grass, fine roots, or
weed stems, and lined with fine grass or hair. The eggs are usually four
or five, but sometimes there are as many as seven. They are white with a
greenish-blue tint and are closely spotted with brown.

CLASS-ROOM LESSON

Discuss with the pupils the observations that they have made on the
field exercises.

Generalize as to the similarity of the places in which the pupils have
seen the sparrow singing, and as to the times of day in which the bird
sings.

Teach the marks of identification which some have discovered, using for
this purpose pictures of the bird or black-board drawings; and encourage
those who have not yet seen the song-sparrow to try again and to secure
the assistance of those who have succeeded.

Compare the size and form of the song-sparrow with that of the
house-sparrow (English).

Tell the pupils the great value of the bird in killing cutworms,
plant-lice, caterpillars, ground-beetles, grasshoppers, flies, and other
insects. It also helps to prevent the spread of weeds by eating
thousands of seeds of noxious weeds.

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