Describe the shape, size, and colour.
Find out how the legs and feet are fitted for climbing and leaping.
Compare the length of the tail with that of the body. Of what use is the tail in cold weather? Of what use is the tail in leaping?
Examine the teeth and find out how they are fitted for opening nuts; gnawing wood.
To the teacher.—The legs of the squirrel are short so that it can press its body close to the tree when climbing. The claws are strong and sharp and the hindquarters are very strong, and are, in consequence, well fitted for leaping. The tail of the squirrel is very long and bushy and serves as a fur for keeping the squirrel's nose warm in winter. The tail is also used for balancing the body when the animal is leaping from bough to bough.
The front teeth of the squirrel are very large and strong and are shaped like chisels.
WINTER BIRDS
In the class lesson on winter birds, take up the birds that the pupils have seen, such as chickadee, blue jay, quail, ruffed grouse, hairy woodpecker, downy woodpecker, great horned owl, house-sparrow, snow bunting (snow bird), pine grosbeak, snowy owl, and purple finch. The four latter are to be noted as winter visitors. Use pictures for illustrating these birds. The habits and winter food of the birds should also be described from the view-point of how these adapt the birds for spending the winter in a cold climate. Direct the children to look for grosbeaks in the pine and rowan trees, where they may be seen feeding on the seeds. The ruffed grouse (commonly called partridge) feeds on the buds of trees in winter; its legs and feet are thickly covered with feathers in winter but are bare in summer.
FIELD EXERCISES
Arouse the interest of the pupils by a conversation of about three minutes on birds that they have seen during the winter, and assign the following exercise: