New-York tribune., 1901-06-03
NATURE STUDY CLASS.
DAY N THE FIELDS WITH THE
NATURAL SCIENCE COMMITTEE
OF NORMAL ALUAINE

WLd flowers from field and wood are frightening
q good many public school classrooms this morning
result q Saturday afternoons excursion Of
the natural science committee OF Normal College
Alumne. In these rooms nature lessons for the
few days will partake OF the subjects discussed
by Mrs. John l. Horthrop, leader cf the party, as
Il halted shady stone wall 10 talk over the dis
coveries OF the day Not so many as usual took the
"trip Saturday owing the public school teachers
excursion TO West Point.
Wakefield station was the point OF rendezvous
and hardly had the train rumbled away when Mrs.
Northrop enjoined her companions: Listen sharp.
girls, there more birds here than in any other
part Of the valley"
The flowers show evidences Of TOO much rain and
the cool weather Of Nav has put the season at
least weeks behind its usual first OF June con-
dition. This Is conspicuousy apparent In the dog
wood some Of tho trees OF which are still at their
height Of bloom. The ferns and foliage. however,
never showed more luxuriani growth.
As tho group wandered on. calamus (sweet hag)
discovered in a reiGhhDring swamp and re-
gardees of slippery slopes and Of mud The edge Of
the marsh was visited II is the tough OF this,
Mrs Northr0p explained. that is cryStalzed 10y the
confectioners She advised hor hearers 70 taste
the spicy tender white ends Of the stalks. which. in
her opinion are more delicious than the stronger
root a number Of other fragrant herbs and shrubs
were nfbblcd by the explorers MS they took their
way across the felds-'te wlld su2ilax C'hread and
butter" the children call iD. which has an acid
favor like the sorrel; tender sprigs of the buck
thorn and young fWlgS or Inc SfiSSafTaS-
The celandine some mistook for the buttercup
until The leader explained that il belongs TO the
roTnv family she showed the bright orange juice
that exudes from the stem. and advised those who
are teaching color 10 use I os example 4 that
hue in nature. This is probably not she said. the
ceIandine that Wordsworth wrote abouJ-'hat gave
him thoughts too deep for Tears" That was
without doubt an English variety. Eot far away
branches Of blackberry were found. covered with
rust of beautiful orange color. and 10 It she
again called tho attention OF those are teach
ing co.Or.
botany box sluHg over the shoulder. a cyanide
b0ttle for eutraIpipg insects and bird glass all
thing is taken irnot only plants. but insecrs birds
and beasts TWO tOads were part Of the catch.
and returu.l 90 the city 40 form The nucleus of q
classroom tcrTariGm
Among the birds seen during the day Were a
scarlet rauager. aU indigo bird, swift barn swal-
low red start. vraus. red wing bla ckbrds. black
birds vec-ss fWilsou's thrushes). thrUshes and
z-e-e0 and = chat. The last named has been called
the bird clown because Of its whimsical perform
ances I'm turning s0mersau ultS and the IKE, with
evident regard for effect. as well as for its great
variety Of notes.
A yellow sva .ow tell moth was seen for the frst
This season. and iu his vicinity black flyer
- ne same variety. with a Cath'~f IN hot pursuit
Some 81 The treasures carried away the benefit
ne CITY hound youngsters or the schools We're
,.b,,ru,.rn S0Orl0ns seal with its deeply SCARED
root stocks which indicate the age q the plant;
raE1Is Shepherds purse. Thich the children
,ieii,aii[ corstra into shepherds pocketbook''
Wild cherry blueberry. strawberry. raspberry,
racl<lcrrv and dewberry. all in bloom; yellow star
syraes wild geranun. wild aZalea, various gals,
- rce1,t ~ insect stings leaves and branches
new foliage and the fruit Of the maple and beech
,dc mi