The whole United States is covered by Dr. Coues's "Key to North American Birds," 2 volumes (The Page Company, Boston. Price $12.50). It is not quite so easy for the beginner, but it is untechnical in style, and fully illustrated.
One book deserving mention because of its value as an aid to teachers is Miss Merriam's "Birds of Village and Field" (Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston. Price $2.00). It is exceptionally rich in facts and statistics relating to the economic value of birds. It treats nearly two hundred of the most common birds.
A book intended for identification only is Professor Apgar's "Birds of the United States" (American Book Company, New York. Price $2.00). It is the result of his experience as teacher, and has several new features very helpful to beginners, such as small cuts at the bottom of pages to explain terms, thus showing exactly what is meant, for example, by "wing bars" or "rounded tail." It also gives hints about the usual locality of a bird, whether creeping over a tree trunk, on the wing, or elsewhere. It takes particular note of size, having one section for birds about the size of an English sparrow, and so on. The pronunciation of the Latin names is carefully indicated. There are several chapters giving descriptions of the external parts of a bird, and there is a glossary of scientific terms.
The following list of points to observe in watching birds has been used to advantage by classes in bird study. A little familiarity with this will help one to remember what to look for.
A similar, but fuller and more elaborate, list has been prepared, and bound up in tablets, to use in the field. It is for sale by Miss J. A. Clark, 1322 Twelfth Street, N. W., Washington, D. C.
POINTS TO OBSERVE
1. Locality—tree: bush: ground.
2. Size—compared to robin: English sparrow.
3. Form—long: short: slender: plump.
4. Beak—high: stout: wide: hooked: long: lobes: drawn down.
5. Tail—length: shape at end.
6. Legs—long: short: scales.
7. Toes—webbed: how turned: hind claw long.
8. Color—bright: striking: dull: plain.
9. Markings—on head: breast: wing: tail: back.
10. Manners—walk: hop: quiet: active: noisy: silent.
11. Habits—eating seeds: berries: insects: from ground: tree trunk: leaves.
12. Song—long: short: continuous: broken.
13. Flight—direct: undulating: fluttering: labored.
14. Nest—where placed: shape: materials: eggs.
15. Young—plumage: behavior.