the polish of the laurel, the hairy surface of the paper mulberry and the roughness of the elm illustrate some of the variety that is to be found in this feature.

Forms.—I have not space to dwell upon the varied forms of leaves. Between the wide and almost circular leaves of the smoke tree, the slender and almost linear leaves of some of the willows, the widetipped leaves of the black oak, the wide-based leaves of the mulberry, the needle-shaped leaves of the pines, and the awl and scale-shaped leaves of the juniper and the cedar, there are almost as many forms of leaves as there are species of trees.

Edges.-The margins of leaves are no less varied in their peculiarities. The entire margin of the quince is in striking contrast to the double notches of the birches and the élms; and these differ greatly from the sharp-pointed lobes found in the red oaks, the rounded lobes of the white oaks, and the wavy edges of the chestnut oaks. Again, the star-shaped leaf of some of the maples may be compared with the even edges of the dogwood.

Veining. In some trees the veining hardly shows at all; in others, as in the elm, the veining is one of the conspicuous features. The chestnut, birch, elm, etc., have a peculiar kind of framework which is called straight veined, because the branching veins from the midrib are so conspicuous, regular and straight. Such leaves as the apple or cherry have the veins branching from the midrib, to be sure, but in an irregular and much-divided way. Another plan of veining, several large and conspicuous ribs starting from the base of the blade and extending to the edges, is well shown in the sycamore and the maples.

Duration.-In our every-day talk in speaking of the great division of trees into evergreen and deciduous ones, we all recognize one of the great differences in the duration of leaves; but there are other minor differences just as well worthy of note. Some deciduous trees put out their leaves very late in the spring and drop them soon after the first frosts of autumn. The ash is a good example; others put out leaves very early and hold them in a green condition almost into the winter, as is the case with the willows. Some oaks retain their brown and dead leaves well through the winter. Among evergreens there are also great differences. Some of the pines hold their leaves but little over a year, while one of the spruces is noted for holding its leaves eight years, and some of the firs as long as fourteen years.

Sap. The sap of most trees is clear like water, but the mulberry and the sumach have milky sap. In the maples there are species with clear sap-the red maple, the silver maple-and others with milky sap-the Norway maple, the cork-bark maple-while

the sugar maple has such sweet sap that it is used. for sugar and gives name to the tree.

Buds.-There are such peculiarities of form, size, color, covering, etc., of the buds of trees that most species can be recognized by a person acquainted with these differences during the winter, when scarce anything but the twigs and buds can be seen. I will merely mention a few of these differences. The long, slender, pointed bud of the beech is one of the best means of determining this species even in summer when the leaves are expanded. The round-tipped and somewhat stalked bud of the alder is also very characteristic. The very large, dark-colored and gummy-coated terminal buds of the horsechestnut; the pointed, grooved and aromatic buds of the balsam-poplar; the small and almost hidden axillary buds of the ailanthus and sumach; the buds, two cr three in number above each other, in the axils of the leaves of the walnut; and the elongated, light-colored, hairy buds, also two or three above each other, of the butternut, are strikingly distinctive of the

trees mentioned.

Forms of Trees.-In the general forms of the the trees as a whole, there are almost as great differences as in any of their other features. The broad, round-topped apple tree bears such a striking contrast to the pointed and almost column-shaped Lombardy poplar. The cone shape so common among evergreens, the umbrella form of the elm, and the irregular and almost shapeless common locust but show how great is the variety in the forms of tree tops.

Twigs. The delicate spray of the birch and elm, the heavy tips of the ailanthus and sumach, and the intermediate character of the ash illustrate some of the differences in the twigs of trees.

Branching. The horizontal branching of many of the pines and oaks, the descending branches of some of the oaks, the almost vertical shoots of the Lombardy poplar and the hanging shoots of the weeping willow serve to emphasize the differences in this feature of tree growth.

Bark.-Contrast the thick, deeply-gashed and darkcolored bark of many of the willows and the common locust with the thin, smooth and light-colored bark of the beech; contrast the clinging, dark-colored bark of the ash, with its netted gashing, with the regularly-peeling and almost snow-white bark of the paper birch; contrast the shaggy, light-colored bark of the shell-bark hickory with the close-clinging, dark-colored bark of the pignut, and one soon learns to recognize certain peculiarities in the covering of the trunks of different trees.

Wood. The heavy and hard wood of the oaks and hickories, the light and soft wood of the willows and bass, the dark walnut, the white holly, the red cher

ry, the greenish tulip, the blotched markings of the oaks, the distinct annual layers of the ash and chestnut, the even grain of the beech, the easily-split and worked pine and the tangled grain of the sycamore are some of the differences that mark the wood of trees.

Flowers.-By a contrast of the large, beautiful dogwood flowers with the inconspicuous blossoms of the elm; and a contrast of the abundant bloom of the apple with the unnoticed flowers of the pine, one again notices a conspicuous difference in trees. So great are the differences in flowers that half of the kinds of trees are considered by most people as having no blossoms at all.

stony walnut; the dry cone of the pine; the insignificant scales of the elm; the elongated pods of the honey locust; and the cotton-filled pods of the poplar, cottonwood and the willow; the spiney-coated chestnut burr, and the winged fruit of the maple and ash illustrate some of the conspicuous differences in the fruit of trees.

In the above I have merely called your attention to some of the interesting and conspicuous differences in the trees of the northwest which could be brought out in the instruction of a wide-awake teacher.

A few trees have been mentioned which are not common but still are to be found in cultivation in

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You will best be able to recognize these feathered folk at first by their size and colors. But begin early to note every habit. These are the bird's life.

Robin. A bird nine or ten inches long from the tip of the bill to the tip of the tail; upper parts olive gray; head darker; tail black with white spot under the base and with outer feathers tipped with white; breast and belly brownish red; throat black and white streaked.

NOTE: Rapid, direct flight; usual great composure of manner varied during excitement by nervous jerking of tail up

over back; song from tree-top at sunrise or sunset suggesting the opening bars of ""Twas Within a Mile of Edinboro Town;" nests in low trees usually, marked liking for earthworms which are sought in the short grass by cocking head to one side, and when found are drawn out slowly and carefully.

Bluebird. Two-thirds as large as the robin; upper part azure blue; throat and breast, yellowish brown; belly white; bill and legs black.

NOTE: Early spring arrival; undulatory flight; frequently repeated song, even when on the wing and during light showers of rain; nests in holes in trees and fence posts; bravery in defending nest from real or fancied enemies; voracious appetite for all sorts of insects. Why does he follow the plowman in the spring?

Brown Thrush or Thrasher. One inch longer, but no heavier in body than robin; upper parts rich rust

red; under parts white, with well-defined brown spots; bill straight and dark colored; feet pale

NOTE: Short flights; habit of eluding observation by half running, half flying through low underbrush; loud clicking note when nest is disturbed; magnificent mimicking song; nest in thickets; great fondness for mulberries and raspberries.

Catbird. Plate LV (See Supplement). Almost as long as robin, but very much more slender; slate color all over, except reddish spot under base of tail. NOTE: Flight and other motions much like brown thrush; resting frequently, with tail and wings drooping and feathers ruffled; cat-like "mew" when disturbed; jolly, imitative song

tail black, witn white spot on each feather; bill and feet flesh color. Fall plumage: black cap lost; body olive brown above and white brown below; wings and tail as in summer.

NOTE: Graceful, undulatory flight, sometimes high in the air and again from thistle top or lettuce stalk; weak, plaintive notes of song, repeated when on the wing in rhythm with curves of flight; nests low in trees; fondness for thistle, dandelion and lettuce seeds. Does it leave your locality, in the winter?

Song Sparrow. Plate XXXIII. About half as long as robin; above streaked with black and brown; crown brown, with fine black streaks; below white,

when hidden within bush; nests in orchards or in bushes along fence rows.

Bank Swallow. Plate XL. Half as long as robin; very slender; wings when closed extending beyond tail; upper parts brownish gray; under parts white, with broad, brownish gray band across breast; bill dark; feet light.

NOTE: Swift, circling flight, almost constant; twittering song; nests in holes dug deeply into river bluffs and railroad cuts; method of catching small insects, while on the wing.

Why does it fly low over the ground or surface of the water when a storm is brewing and high in the air when the sky is clear?

American Goldfinch. Half as long as robin. Summer plumage: body rich yellow; crown of head black; wings black, with some feathers edged with white;

with black-centered brown spots on breast; brown stripe behind eye; tail brown; bill and feet brown.

NOTE: Progress from bush to bush by hops and very short flights; song-the most noticeable characteristic of the birdone high note repeated three times and immediately succeeded by a series of short, rapid runs up and down the scale; nest on ground.

Judging from its beak, what does it eat?

Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Plate XXXVII. Twothirds as large as robin; short neck; black on head, throat and all upper parts, except white spot at base of tail; under parts white, except large rose spot on breast and rose tinting under wings; bill very large, light.

NOTE: Heavy flight; loud, plaintive warble, principally in

carly morning; nest in bushes, built of roots and fibers. In collected specimen examine carefully the structure of the bill. Bobolink. Plate XIX. Two-thirds as long as robin; more slenderly proportioned; under parts and head black; upper parts white; legs and bill brown. NOTE: Habit in meadows of flying directly upward and then remaining stationary in the air several moments; jolly bubbling song, most animated when on the wing; gluttony in the late summer and fall, when his gay coat fades to streaked yellowish brown. If you observe a pair frequently in one spot in a meadow, take a week off and hunt for the nest in some bunch of grass.

upper sides of wings and middle of tail; other parts orange, except white band across wings.

NOTE: Habit of swinging on ends of slender branches; loud, clear, musical song; pouch-shaped nest, suspended from extremity of drooping branch, usually of elm tree; holding food by claw while pecking it to pieces.

Golden-winged Woodpecker. Flicker. See plate IX. One-fourth longer than robin; body and bill much longer in proportion; tail shorter; upper parts olive brown with many small black bars; head and neck lilac brown with scarlet crescent on back of

Redwinged Blackbird. As long as robin, but more slender; black, except crimson buff-bordered spots on shoulders; legs and bill black.

NOTE: Flight in flocks, or when nesting, consisting of short excursions near nest; the many variations in his song of three notes, "O-ka-lee;" attempts at frightening intruders away from nests, which are placed in bushes near marsh.

Does he kill enough worms to pay for the corn he steals? Baltimore Oriole. Two-thirds as long as robin, but more slender; black on head, neck, upper back,

neck; broad black crescent on breast; belly ashy with circular black spots; wings and tail golden yellow underneath; tail black above except large white spot at base.

NOTE:-Alternation of flutter and "swoop" in flight; most common call of "Flick-eh-flickeh" frequently repeated; nest in hole high up in tree trunk; feeding frequently on ground, especially near ant hills.

Kingbird. See plate XII. Almost as long as robin; more slender; ferocious aspect; upper parts