The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1914-10-01
STUDY OF NATURE
An Interesting Feature For the
Lecturers Program.
Mature Study In the Schools Is Advo'
Gated BY the Grange-The Following
Questions and Answers May Interest
Children OF Larger Growth.

I
Children Of a Larger Growth.
The following questions have been
propounded by the Burroughs Nature
club and the answers are taken from
the works of John Burroughs and are
used by permission of the president OF
the club. They have been prepared by
the editor of this department for the
use OF lecturers of the oranges in the
hope that they will use them as a fea-
ture OF their programs ms frequently as
is possible, thereby giving an added in
terest to the study of things about us
and with which we should be more
familiar than we are. The lecturer
may assign the questions In advance
or may read the questions with their
answers in the lecture hour, should
be pleased 70 hear from all lecturers
who use this feature and have their
opinion Of Its value.
.,r.--- J, w. BARROW.
11~s I.s~
Question 1.-Where does the crow
establish winter quarters.
Answer.-Whie crows are abundant
as far north as Washington all win
ter their winter quarters are In the
Virginia woods 1t is also said by Mr..
Burroughs that they go into winter
quarters also few miles north Of
Newburg, on the Hudson, flying south
| in the morning and returning again at
night.
Question What may be said Of
birds vision? How does it compare
with mans?
Answer.-The bird has the human
eye in its clearness, its power and its
supremacy over the other senses. The
birds eye Is superficial. 1t Is on the
outside of the head. 1t is round that
1t may take in a full circle at glance.
A mans does not take In more than
a quarter circle
Question g. Describe the wood
thrush and its ability as songster.
Answer-The wood thrush makes
his appearance in May and before the
end of June is tame and familiar If
the quality Of melody be taken as the
test the wood thrush, the hermit
thrush and the veery thrush stand at
the head of the list of songsters. The
wood thrush. says Mr. Burroughs, is
truly royal minstrel. The song Of
the hermit thrush is in higher key.
His instrument is silver horn, when
he winds in the most solitary places.
The song of the wood thrush is more
leisurey. and its tone comes near to
that of some rare stringed instrument
The wood thrush is also the handsom-
est species of this family. Its car
rage is music to the eye"
Question What bird is it that
seeks the nests of other birds In which
it may lay its own eggs and have
them Matched out by another?
Answer.-This is characteristic of |
the COW bunting or COW bird. Occa-
slonally the cuckoo imposes upon a
robin or thrush in the same manner. |
The cow bird seems to select the nest
Of bird smaller than itself. Its egg
is usually the first to hatch, and its
young grows with great rapidity and
crowds out the rightful occupants OF
the nest The warbers and small fly
catchers are generally the sufferers
but the COW birds may be seen at the
right season proving through all parts
of the woods watching for the opportu-
nifty to steal their eggs into some nest.
Question blow does the bee de-
post pollen in the hive? Describe how
the bees make the comb.
Answer.--When a bee brings pollen
into the hive he advances to the cell
in which it Is to be deposited and
kicks ii off as one might his rubber
boots, making one foot help the other.
Then another bee. one Of the indoor
hands, comes along and rams it down
with his head and thus packs it into
the cell. The making of the comb Is
the real hard work OF the busy bees
lives. They can have the honey for the
but the wax for the comb
hey must manufacture. When wax
IS to be made the wax making contin- |
gent of the bee workers fill themselves
with honey and retire for private
as Mr.. Burroughs puts It.
rhey hook themselves together in long
ines that hang In festoons from the
op Of the hive. and after about TWEEN.
y-four hours the miracle Is performed. !
he honey Il turned into wax, minute
Gales Of which are secreted between
he rings Of the abdomen Of each bee
This is taken off and from II the comb
5 built up. II II calculated that about
twenty-five pounds Of honey are re-
uired to make one pound Of comb.
Question 6.--What is the only com !
lon bird whose song the hooking bird J
annot initiate? {
Answer.--It il the b0b0link. He has {
n unusually full throat, which may +
clip account for his great power OF
Dng, No bird has yet been found that e
lnld initiate him, or even repeat or o
lggest a single note. as IL his song /
ere the product Of a new set Of or z
ans II Is said that the knocking bird u
dumb In the presence of the bobo- v
nk The English skylark is quite as d
iccessful as the hooking bird as r,