Page:Bird-lore Vol 01.djvu/65

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For the first Bird-Day in every school it would be well to have some one read Senator Hoar′s petition of the birds to the legislature of Massachusetts. This remarkable paper deserves reading by all friends of birds at least once a year.

Compositions.—Have also original compositions, describing some bird studied, or describing some of its habits, especially its habit of feeding, and the actions showing its disposition.

Personations.—Special interest will be awakened by having of birds. These are descriptions of birds told in the first person, as if the bird itself were telling its own story. An accurate account of the bird's appearance, habits, feelings, and life from the bird’s view-point, is given, but without telling the bird’s name. At the close of the reading, the hearers vote upon the name of the bird ‘personated.’

Audubon Society Literature.—The teacher should also obtain circulars from the secretaries of the New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and other Audubon Societies. These will give information concerning the rapid destruction of birds. Extracts may be read from them.

Poems.—Extracts from the poets naturally form an interesting feature of Bird-Day. Poets are generally bird-lovers and bird-seers. Among the poems peculiarly adapted are the following: ‘Robert O’ Lincoln,’ Bryant; ‘The Mocking Bird,’ Sidney Lanier; ‘The Sky Lark,’ Shelly; 'The O′ Lincoln Family,' Wilson Flagg; ‘The Rain Song of the Robin,’ Kate Upson Clark; ‘The Titmouse,’ R. W. Emerson; ‘The Eagle,’  Tennyson; ‘To The Skylark’, [[Author:William Wordsworth
 * William Wordsworth]].

Personal Experiences.—Another pleasant part of the program will be the short statements of facts about birds, by the pupils, obtained from their own observation. Birds of the Bible may also be given in short extracts.

Prose Selections.—John Burroughs′ ‘Birds and Poets,’ and ‘Wake Robin;’ Bradford Torrey′s ‘Birds in the Bush;’ Olive Thorne Miller's ‘Bird Ways,’ and many other books, abound in suitable passages for Bird-Day.

The pupils will enjoy preparing a Bird-Day program much more than learning little set speeches from one already prepared. The preliminary observation of birds will arouse an enthusiasm that will be of great value in all educational work.

 

HE Bureau of Nature Study of Cornell University offers to assist all boys and girls who want to take bird boarders this season. By addressing this Bureau, at Ithaca, N. Y., one may receive a copy of an admirable leaflet entitled ‘The Birds and I.’ containing numerous designs for houses which may be constructed for the occupation of the expected ‘boarders.’  