OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2896, 15 September 1909, Page 86

OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN.

FOR SENIORS AND JUNIORS. (Conducted by Magisteb, to whom all communications must be addressed.) BIRD DAY. Laefc week I promised another note on Bird Day. What is meant by such a day will be seen by the following extracts from the July issue of the Education Gazette and Teachers' Aid, issued to its teachers by the Victorian Education Department. " Ornithologist " thinks it would be a good idea to have a Bird Day here, and so do I. Perhaps the New Zealand Institute could persuade our Minister of Education to inaugurate the movement here, and on similar lines. In addition to the short article on Bird Day, I am giving the announcement abort a. set of teetnres on Ornithology, suggestions for observation work, and a paragraph or two interesting to us on Swallows and flycatchers. Have any readers beard of swallows in. New Zealand? "It has been decided to hold a Bird Day in October. One of the practical proposals for that day is to make up a list of birds actually seen in the school district on that day and a list of those seen in the district about that time. Each school will keep a copy of these, and another copy will be sent in to the Education Department. The ornithologista have promised to tabulate these lists of birds, and the results will be published under eight districts — North- East, North Central, and North-West, Soirtb-Eaet, South Central, and South-West, Mountainous East, and Mountainous Central. Each school will tfeen be able to note what birds were actually seen on Bird Day in their diebrict. They will then know what to search for next year, and so will soon add greatly to their list. Thus a school might get 10 birds on the first Bird Day, But will certainly get more on later days. "It is essential that only birds that teachers are sure of ehouid be included. Others might be added as doubtful. It will take some time to get to know all the bLuda, but thea-e is no hurry, for Rome was not built hi a day. Recognise one or two at a time, and in 12 months you will know most of the common birds of your district. " The response for information re Blue "Wreji has been most gratifying. From mobt districts of the State records have been received of fche Blue Wren in full plumajre e\er si'ioe last Easter. This information is being passed on to the Australian Ornithologists' Union. Teachers can help gredtly by letting their pupils send notes on the questions raised. l< The bird selected for this month is the Cuckoo. Would teachers kindly encourage their pupils to send us the record of the first aj*rival of the different cuckoos? Send' also any habits noted; records are desired of mests that young cuckoos are found in, whether other young ones are present with them. What birds are feeding young cuckoos? Any note that would show how the bi^r cuckoo gets its egg into the closed nests of tits, blue wrens, etc., would be welcome. Other notes on the arrival of migratory birds would be gladly l-eceived." , •LECTUBEB IN OBNITHOU>GT j A course of University Extension Lectures on Ornithology will be given in the ' Biological laboratory, Melbourne University, by Mr Dudley Le Souef, C.M.Z.S.,

under the auspices of the Australasian Ornithologists' Union amd the Bird Obse» yens' Club. The course consists of 12 lectures, well illustrated by lantern elides from photographs taken drreot from nature. Although the lectures will be of an elementary character they will embody most of the 6alient facts re-garding bird life, with special reference to the remarkable aharactarisitics of certain Victorian species. A large number of interesting specimens of mounted birds, nests, and eggs will be displayed on each lecture evening. Synopsis of Remaining: Lectures. — Adaptation to environment, flight, etc. Migration. Food of Birds, with special reference to economic value. Mound Building Birds and their Kin. Swamp Birds. Birds of Prey. Parrots and Cockatoos. Honeyeaters, Flycatchers, Cuckoos, etc. Pigeons and Quail. Ocefun Birds. All the- principal families of Victorian birds wll be dealt wih in the course. Coloration, eggs, and nests were dealt with in the first three lectures | Observation Wobk. j Robins. — Encourage the children to recognise which of the three Robin Red- ■ breasts are in their district. Note last date of appearance of Robins, for they retire to the mountain gullies to breed. j Fantails and Flycatchers: — How many of these interesting birds have you in your ' district? Keep «. look-out for the arrival of the migratory flycatchers.' -j Ouckoos. — Note the date on which each of tie ouokooe is first seen. Send it in with . your Bird Day report. ' - Nests. — Keep ireeord of dates of building. Swallows, b»DbliB»B, juhd "magpies already < reported building. H-areks. — Coroturae notes leading to identification. Note food wfbeneTO-i possible. See last month's Gazette- for illustrations. Flowers. — Note first date of flowering; enter it on the calendar. These records are urgently needed now, «s a census of Victorian flowering plants is being prepared. Ptofgssor Ewart is anxious to *uefc these records. Send any records you axe sure of for any of our wild flowers. Buttercup.— The earliest report was June 29. On the whole, this season seems about a moniih early. If no severe weather eete in, there should be a glorious early spring. Buds. — This study will provide sood observation work. Stand some pruned twigs in a bottle of water, and draw at intervals of a few days once growth starts. Or, better, draw twigs actually on the plants in the school garden. Learn to recognise fruit and leaf buds. Mack several. Observe later, and see if you are correct. Moths. — Possibly before the next Gazette appears, the first black and light yellow vine moth will be flying about. Who will i send the earliest record? The Emperor t Gum" Moth generally appeaas later, v about the middle of October, end the male XJaeemoth a little earlier. Butterfnes.— The Imperial White Butterfly will emerge from the pupa hanging in the web on a fork of mistletoe possibly before the nert Gazette appears. Insect Visitors to Flowers. — Cnoose six. common flcwera «nd make a list of the insects tia* visit -t*i»m. Tfaeai -endeaTOur to^ discover how each flower attracts its -visitors.