Handbook of Nature-Study

About this eBook

Author

Comstock, Anna Botsford, 1854-1930

Title

Handbook of nature-study for teachers and parents : Based on the Cornell nature-study leaflets, with much additional material and many new illustrations

Original Publication

Ithaca: Comstock Publishing Company, 1911, pubdate 1916.

Credits

Carol Brown, Aaron Adrignola and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)

Language

English

LoC Class

QH: Science: Natural history

Subject

Nature study

Category

Text

Project Gutenberg

eBook-No. 78142

Release Date

March 8, 2026

Copyright

Public domain in the USA.

Contents

1. 1.Untitled
2. 2.Untitled
3. 3.HANDBOOK OF NATURE-STUDY
4. 4.Untitled
5. 5.Untitled
6. 6.PREFACE
7. 7.Untitled
8. 8.TABLE OF CONTENTS
9. 9.Untitled
10. 10.PART I. — THE TEACHING OF NATURE-STUDY
11. 11.HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
12. 12.PART II. — ANIMAL LIFE
13. 13.FEATHERS AS CLOTHING — LESSON I
14. 14.FEATHERS AS ORNAMENT — LESSON II
15. 15.HOW BIRDS FLY — LESSON III
16. 16.EYES AND EARS OF BIRDS — LESSON IV
17. 17.THE FORM AND USE OF BEAKS — LESSON V
18. 18.THE FEET OF BIRDS — LESSON VI
19. 19.CHICKEN WAYS — LESSON VII
20. 20.PIGEONS — LESSON VIII
21. 21.THE CANARY AND THE GOLDFINCH — LESSON IX
22. 22.THE ROBIN — LESSON X
23. 23.THE BLUEBIRD — LESSON XI
24. 24.THE WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH — LESSON XII
25. 25.THE CHICKADEE — LESSON XIII
26. 26.THE DOWNY WOODPECKER — LESSON XIV
27. 27.THE SAPSUCKER — LESSON XV
28. 28.THE RED-HEADED WOODPECKER — LESSON XVI
29. 29.THE FLICKER OR YELLOW-HAMMER — LESSON XVII
30. 30.THE MEADOW-LARK — LESSON XVIII
31. 31.THE ENGLISH SPARROW — LESSON XIX
32. 32.THE CHIPPING SPARROW — LESSON XX
33. 33.THE SONG SPARROW — LESSON XXI
34. 34.THE MOCKINGBIRD — LESSON XXII
35. 35.THE CATBIRD — LESSON XXIII
36. 36.THE BELTED KINGFISHER — LESSON XXIV
37. 37.THE SCREECH OWL — LESSON XXV
38. 38.THE HEN HAWKS — LESSON XXVI
39. 39.THE SWALLOWS AND THE CHIMNEY SWIFT — LESSON XXVII
40. 40.THE HUMMINGBIRD — LESSON XXVIII
41. 41.THE RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD — LESSON XXIX
42. 42.THE BALTIMORE ORIOLE — LESSON XXX
43. 43.THE CROW — LESSON XXXI
44. 44.THE CARDINAL GROSBEAK — LESSON XXXII
45. 45.GEESE — LESSON XXXIII
46. 46.THE TURKEY — LESSON XXXIV — LESSON XXXV
47. 47.II. FISH STUDY
48. 48.THE GOLDFISH — LESSON XXXVI
49. 49.THE BULLHEAD — LESSON XXXVII
50. 50.THE COMMON SUCKER — LESSON XXXVIII
51. 51.THE SHINER — LESSON XXXIX
52. 52.THE BROOK TROUT — LESSON XL
53. 53.THE STICKLEBACK — LESSON XLI
54. 54.THE SUNFISH — LESSON XLII
55. 55.THE JOHNNY DARTER — LESSON XLIII
56. 56.III. BATRACHIAN STUDY — THE COMMON TOAD — LESSON XLIV — LESSON XLV
57. 57.THE TREE-FROG, OR TREE-TOAD — LESSON XLVI
58. 58.THE FROG — LESSON XLVII
59. 59.THE NEWT, EFT OR SALAMANDER — LESSON XLVIII
60. 60.IV. REPTILE STUDY
61. 61.THE GARTER, OR GARDEN, SNAKE — LESSON XLIX
62. 62.THE MILK SNAKE, OR SPOTTED ADDER — LESSON L
63. 63.THE WATER SNAKE — LESSON LI
64. 64.THE TURTLE — LESSON LII
65. 65.V. MAMMAL STUDY
66. 66.THE COTTON-TAIL RABBIT — LESSON LIII
67. 67.THE MUSKRAT — LESSON LIV
68. 68.THE HOUSE MOUSE — LESSON LV
69. 69.THE WOODCHUCK — LESSON LVI
70. 70.THE RED SQUIRREL OR CHICKAREE — LESSON LVII
71. 71.FURRY
72. 72.THE CHIPMUNK — LESSON LVIII
73. 73.THE LITTLE BROWN BAT — LESSON LIX
74. 74.THE SKUNK — LESSON LX
75. 75.THE RACCOON — LESSON LXI
76. 76.THE WOLF
77. 77.THE FOX — LESSON LXII
78. 78.DOGS — LESSON LXIII
79. 79.THE CAT — LESSON LXIV
80. 80.THE GOAT — LESSON LXV
81. 81.THE SHEEP — LESSON LXVI
82. 82.THE HORSE — LESSON LXVII
83. 83.CATTLE — LESSON LXVIII
84. 84.THE PIG — LESSON LXIX
85. 85.VI. INSECT STUDY
86. 86.Untitled
87. 87.THE BLACK SWALLOW-TAIL BUTTERFLY — LESSON LXX
88. 88.The Monarch Butterfly — LESSON LXXI
89. 89.THE ISABELLA TIGER MOTH OR WOOLLY BEAR — LESSON LXXII
90. 90.THE CECROPIA — LESSON LXXIII
91. 91.THE PROMETHEA — LESSON LXXIV
92. 92.THE HUMMINGBIRD, OR SPHINX, MOTHS — LESSON LXXV
93. 93.THE CODLING MOTH — LESSON LXXVI
94. 94.LEAF-MINERS — LESSON LXXVII
95. 95.THE LEAF-ROLLERS — LESSON LXXVIII
96. 96.THE GALL-DWELLERS — LESSON LXXIX
97. 97.THE GRASSHOPPER — LESSON LXXX
98. 98.THE KATYDID — LESSON LXXXI
99. 99.THE BLACK CRICKET — LESSON LXXXII
100. 100.THE SNOWY TREE-CRICKET
101. 101.THE COCKROACH — LESSON LXXXIII
102. 102.LESSON LXXXIV
103. 103.THE DRAGON-FLIES AND DAMSEL-FLIES — LESSON LXXXV
104. 104.THE CADDIS-WORMS AND THE CADDIS-FLIES — LESSON LXXXVI
105. 105.THE APHIDS, OR PLANT-LICE — LESSON LXXXVII
106. 106.THE ANT-LION — LESSON LXXXVIII
107. 107.THE MOTHER LACE-WING AND THE APHIS-LION — LESSON LXXXIX
108. 108.THE MOSQUITO — LESSON XC
109. 109.THE HOUSE-FLY — LESSON XCI
110. 110.THE COLORADO POTATO-BEETLE — LESSON XCII
111. 111.THE LADYBIRD — LESSON XCIII
112. 112.THE FIREFLY — LESSON XCIV
113. 113.THE WAYS OF THE ANT — LESSON XCV
114. 114.LESSON XCVI
115. 115.THE ANT-NEST, AND WHAT MAY BE SEEN WITHIN IT — LESSON XCVII
116. 116.THE MUD-DAUBER — LESSON XCVIII
117. 117.THE YELLOW-JACKET — LESSON XCIX
118. 118.THE LEAF-CUTTER BEE — LESSON C
119. 119.THE LITTLE CARPENTER-BEE — LESSON CI
120. 120.THE BUMBLEBEE — LESSON CII
121. 121.THE HONEY-BEE — LESSON CIII
122. 122.LESSON CIV
123. 123.INDUSTRIES OF THE HIVE AND THE OBSERVATION HIVE — LESSON CV
124. 124.VII. OTHER INVERTEBRATE-ANIMAL STUDY — THE GARDEN SNAIL — LESSON CVI
125. 125.THE EARTHWORM — LESSON CVII
126. 126.THE CRAYFISH — LESSON CVIII
127. 127.DADDY-LONGLEGS, OR GRANDFATHER GREYBEARD — LESSON CIX
128. 128.SPIDERS — LESSON CX
129. 129.THE FUNNEL WEB — LESSON CXI
130. 130.THE ORB-WEB — LESSON CXII
131. 131.THE FILMY DOME — LESSON CXIII
132. 132.BALLOONING SPIDERS — LESSON CXIV
133. 133.THE WHITE CRAB-SPIDER — LESSON CXV
134. 134.HOW THE SPIDER MOTHERS TAKE CARE OF THEIR EGGS — LESSON CXVI
135. 135.PART III PLANT LIFE
136. 136.HOW TO BEGIN THE STUDY OF PLANTS AND FLOWERS
137. 137.HOW TO MAKE PLANTS COMFORTABLE
138. 138.HOW TO TEACH THE NAMES OF THE PARTS OF A FLOWER AND OF THE PLANT
139. 139.TEACH THE USE OF THE FLOWER
140. 140.FLOWERS AND INSECT PARTNERS
141. 141.THE RELATION OF PLANTS TO GEOGRAPHY
142. 142.SEED GERMINATION
143. 143.I. WILD-FLOWER STUDY
144. 144.THE HEPATICA — LESSON CXVII
145. 145.THE YELLOW ADDER’S TONGUE — LESSON CXVIII
146. 146.BLOODROOT — LESSON CXIX
147. 147.THE TRILLIUM — LESSON CXX
148. 148.DUTCHMAN’S BREECHES AND SQUIRREL CORN — LESSON CXXI
149. 149.JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT — LESSON CXXII
150. 150.THE VIOLET — LESSON CXXIII
151. 151.THE MAY APPLE, OR MANDRAKE — LESSON CXXIV
152. 152.THE BLUETS — LESSON CXXV
153. 153.THE YELLOW LADY’S SLIPPER — LESSON CXXVI
154. 154.THE COMMON BUTTERCUP — LESSON CXXVII
155. 155.THE EVENING PRIMROSE — LESSON CXXVIII
156. 156.THE HEDGE BINDWEED — LESSON CXXIX
157. 157.THE DODDER — LESSON CXXX
158. 158.THE MILKWEED — LESSON CXXXI
159. 159.THE WHITE WATER LILY — LESSON CXXXII
160. 160.PONDWEED — LESSON CXXXIII
161. 161.THE CAT-TAIL — LESSON CXXXIV
162. 162.LESSON CXXXV
163. 163.THE GOLDENROD — LESSON CXXXVI
164. 164.THE ASTERS — LESSON CXXXVII
165. 165.THE WHITE DAISY — LESSON CXXXVIII
166. 166.THE YELLOW DAISY, OR BLACK-EYED SUSAN — LESSON CXXXIX
167. 167.THE THISTLE — LESSON CXL
168. 168.THE BURDOCK — LESSON CXLI
169. 169.PRICKLY LETTUCE, A COMPASS PLANT — LESSON CXLII
170. 170.THE DANDELION — LESSON CXLIII
171. 171.THE PEARLY EVERLASTING — LESSON CXLIV
172. 172.THE JEWELWEED, OR TOUCH-ME-NOT — LESSON CXLV
173. 173.MULLEIN — LESSON CXLVI
174. 174.THE TEASEL — LESSON CXLVII
175. 175.QUEEN ANNE’S LACE, OR WILD CARROT — LESSON CXLVIII
176. 176.WEEDS — LESSON CXLIX
177. 177.CULTIVATED-PLANT STUDY — THE CROCUS — LESSON CL
178. 178.THE DAFFODILS AND THEIR RELATIVES — LESSON CLI
179. 179.THE TULIP — LESSON CLII
180. 180.THE PANSY — LESSON CLIII
181. 181.THE BLEEDING HEART — LESSON CLIV
182. 182.LESSON CLV
183. 183.THE CALIFORNIA POPPY — LESSON CLVI
184. 184.THE NASTURTIUM — LESSON CLVII
185. 185.THE BEE-LARKSPUR — LESSON CLVIII
186. 186.THE BLUE FLAG, OR IRIS — LESSON CLIX
187. 187.THE SUNFLOWER — LESSON CLX
188. 188.THE BACHELOR’S BUTTON — LESSON CLXI
189. 189.THE SALVIA, OR SCARLET SAGE — LESSON CLXII
190. 190.PETUNIAS — LESSON CLXIII
191. 191.THE HORSESHOE GERANIUM — LESSON CLXIV
192. 192.Untitled
193. 193.THE SWEET PEA — LESSON CLXV
194. 194.THE CLOVERS — LESSON CLXVI
195. 195.SWEET CLOVER — LESSON CLXVII
196. 196.THE WHITE CLOVER — LESSON CLXVIII
197. 197.THE MAIZE, OR INDIAN CORN — LESSON CLXIX
198. 198.THE COTTON PLANT — LESSON CLXX
199. 199.THE STRAWBERRY — LESSON CLXXI
200. 200.THE PUMPKIN — LESSON CLXXII
201. 201.FLOWERLESS-PLANT STUDY — FERNS
202. 202.THE CHRISTMAS FERN — LESSON CLXXIII
203. 203.THE BRACKEN — LESSON CLXXIV
204. 204.HOW A FERN BUD UNFOLDS — LESSON CLXXV
205. 205.THE FRUITING OF THE FERN
206. 206.LESSON CLXXVI
207. 207.THE FIELD HORSETAIL — LESSON CLXXVII
208. 208.THE HAIR-CAP MOSS, OR PIGEON WHEAT — LESSON CLXXVIII
209. 209.MUSHROOMS AND OTHER FUNGI — LESSON CLXXIX
210. 210.PUFFBALLS — LESSON CLXXX
211. 211.THE BRACKET FUNGI — LESSON CLXXXI
212. 212.LESSON CLXXXII — LESSON CLXXXIII
213. 213.LESSON CLXXXIV
214. 214.LESSON CLXXXV
215. 215.MOLDS — LESSON CLXXXVI
216. 216.BACTERIA — LESSON CLXXXVII
217. 217.TREE STUDY
218. 218.HOW TO BEGIN TREE STUDY — LESSON CLXXXVIII
219. 219.LESSON CLXXXIX
220. 220.THE MAPLES — LESSON CXC
221. 221.THE AMERICAN ELM — LESSON CXCI
222. 222.THE OAK — LESSON CXCII
223. 223.THE SHAGBARK HICKORY — LESSON CXCIII
224. 224.THE CHESTNUT — LESSON CXCIV
225. 225.THE HORSE-CHESTNUT — LESSON CXCV
226. 226.THE WILLOWS — LESSON CXCVI
227. 227.THE COTTONWOOD, OR CAROLINA POPLAR — LESSON CXCVII
228. 228.THE WHITE ASH — LESSON CXCVIII
229. 229.THE APPLE TREE — LESSON CXCIX
230. 230.HOW AN APPLE GROWS — LESSON CC
231. 231.THE APPLE — LESSON CCI
232. 232.THE PINE
233. 233.LESSON CCII
234. 234.THE NORWAY SPRUCE — LESSON CCIII
235. 235.Untitled
236. 236.THE HEMLOCK — LESSON CCIV
237. 237.THE DOGWOOD — LESSON CCV
238. 238.THE VELVET, OR STAGHORN, SUMAC — LESSON CCVI
239. 239.THE WITCH-HAZEL — LESSON CCVII
240. 240.THE MOUNTAIN LAUREL — LESSON CCVIII
241. 241.PART IV — EARTH AND SKY — THE BROOK — LESSON CCIX
242. 242.HOW A BROOK DROPS ITS LOAD — LESSON CCX
243. 243.CRYSTAL GROWTH — LESSON CCXI
244. 244.SALT — LESSON CCXII
245. 245.LESSON CCXIII
246. 246.QUARTZ — LESSON CCXIV
247. 247.FELDSPAR — LESSON CCXV
248. 248.MICA — LESSON CCXVI
249. 249.GRANITE — LESSON CCXVII
250. 250.CALCITE, MARBLE AND LIMESTONE — LESSON CCXVIII
251. 251.THE MAGNET — LESSON CCXIX
252. 252.THE SOIL — LESSON CCXX
253. 253.WATER FORMS — LESSON CCXXI
254. 254.THE WEATHER
255. 255.LESSON CCXXII
256. 256.LESSON CCXXIII
257. 257.HOW TO READ WEATHER MAPS — LESSON CCXXIV
258. 258.THE STORY OF THE STARS
259. 259.HOW TO BEGIN STAR STUDY — The Pole-star and the Dippers — LESSON CCXXV
260. 260.CASSIOPEIA’S CHAIR, CEPHEUS, AND THE DRAGON — LESSON CCXXVI
261. 261.THE WINTER STARS — LESSON CCXXVII
262. 262.ALDEBARAN AND THE PLEIADES — LESSON CCXXVIII
263. 263.THE TWO DOG STARS, SIRIUS AND PROCYON — LESSON CCXXIX
264. 264.CAPELLA AND THE HEAVENLY TWINS — LESSON CCXXX
265. 265.THE STARS OF SUMMER — LESSON CCXXXI
266. 266.THE SUN
267. 267.THE RELATION BETWEEN THE TROPIC OF CANCER AND THE PLANTING OF THE GARDEN
268. 268.THE ZODIAC AND ITS SIGNS
269. 269.THE RELATIONS OF THE SUN TO THE EARTH — LESSON CCXXXII
270. 270.LESSON CCXXXIII
271. 271.THE MOON — LESSON CCXXXIV
272. 272.BOOKS OF REFERENCE
273. 273.INDEX — Transcriber’s Note:

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