A Description of
Twenty-five Local Birds with Study Outlines
WILLIAM H. CARR
_Assistant Curator, Department of Education_
School Service Series--Number One
Third Edition, March, 1934
Department of Education
American Museum of Natural History
77th Street and Central Park West
New York City
CIRCULATING NATURE COLLECTIONS OF BIRDS IN THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF
NATURAL HISTORY
This Bird Study Manual is intended especially for the use of teachers and
pupils in the New York City Schools. It is written primarily to describe
the birds contained in the circulating nature study collections which
the American Museum of Natural History loans to public schools. However
it may be used as a general guide to bird study as well. The various
study outlines tell the story of different projects that may be
developed in connection with birds. Typical birds are illustrated. As
much as is possible in the life history of each bird is given. The bird
poems may be used in connection with the study of English. The study of
birds may very well be correlated with the studies of many other
subjects such as Civics, Geography and other topics.
The purpose of the loan collections of birds and other animals in the
American Museum of Natural History is to place in the hands of teachers
good material for classroom instruction, At the same time authoritative
data is given with each collection. These loan collections are available
for any teacher in any school in Greater New York.
The method of obtaining these collections has been made the simplest
possible as far as the teachers are concerned. At least once a year (in
September), and sometimes twice a year, a return postal card is mailed
to every school principal in the City system, All that the principal has
to do to obtain the collections is to indicate by numerals the sequence
in which he wants the collections delivered, signing his name and school
number. The Museum messengers will then deliver the collections, and
call for them, without any more effort on the part of the schools. The
entire cost of this service is borne by the Museum.
Teachers are urged, whenever possible, to bring their classes to the
American Museum of Natural History, at 77th Street and Central Park
West, to take advantage of the opportunities for further study that are
offered. In the many halls of birds and animals, the home life and the
general habitat of the creatures are given in detail. There is a free
guide service for teachers and pupils. Also there are classes for school
children held in the new School Service Building. In fact, the wealth of
natural history study material is always there, available in many ways
for the use of all who desire to further their knowledge of the animals
of the out-of-doors.
Applications for these collections and for further information should be
addressed to The American Museum of Natural History, 77th Street and
Central Park West, New York City.
George H. Sherwood, _Curator-in-Chief_
_Department of Public Education_
The American Museum of Natural History has five collections of birds to
lend to Public Schools. These five are: