of
time in looking for the objects that he wishes his pupils to see. If the
teacher wishes to increase his love for nature, he must take many walks
without his pupils.

The school garden offers a partial solution of the difficulties
mentioned above. It brings a large amount of material to the doors of
the school. Plants of the farm or the garden may be studied under
various changeable conditions, and it will be seen that insect pests,
weeds, and fungous diseases follow the lessons on plants, while lessons
on birds and toads follow those on insects. With sections of the garden
devoted to the cultivation of wild flowers, ferns, and forest trees, the
specially organized excursion will become less of a necessity, although
it will still continue to be a valuable factor in Nature Study work.

After an excursion is over, it should be discussed in class. The various
facts learned should be reviewed and related. If any pupils have made
inaccurate observations, they should be required to observe again to
correct their errors. Finally, the excursion may form the subject of a
composition.

A TYPE EXCURSION

~A Bird's Nest.~--The children have been instructed to study the
meadow-lark, beginning about March twenty-first. While engaged in this
work, a nest is discovered near the school. The teacher is informed and
the pupils are conducted to the spot.

What is growing in the field? Is there a long or a short growth? Did the
mother bird make much noise as she rose from the nest? Did this help to
reveal its presence? Is the nest easy to see? The class will halt a few
paces from it and try to find it. How many eggs? Their colour? Note the
arch of grass so beautifully concealing the nest.

Returning to school, the facts observed are reviewed. The pupils may
then express themselves by written composition or by drawings,
paintings, or modellings of the nest, the eggs, or the surroundings.
Frequent visits to the nest should not be made, and the pupils should be
warned not to disturb the bird, as she may desert the nest on slight
provocation.

A second excursion may be made, when the eggs are hatched, to see the
young birds.

~A Wasp's Nest.~--A nest having been discovered, the pupils note how it is
suspended and how it is situated with regard to concealment or to
protection from rain, its colour, the material of the nest, and the
position of the entrance. Is the opening ever deserted? How many wasps
enter and how many leave the n