,illustration3 ,the land is at rest ,the 8,,look ,,about ,,you0 ,nature ,study ,books ,,book ,,ii4 ,,by ,,thomas ,w4 ,,hoare ,,teacher ,,of ,,nature ,,study to the ,falkirk ,school ,board and ,stirlingshire ,county ,council ,illustration3 ,publisher's ,logo ,,london3 ,t4 ,c4 ,e4 ,c4 ,,jack1 ,ltd4 #ce ,,paternoster ,,row1 ,e4,c4 ,,and ,,edinburgh ,,preface4 ,this little book should be used as a simple guide to the practical study of ,nature rather than as a mere reader4 ,every lesson herein set down has1 during the author's many years' experience in teaching ,nature ,study1 been taught by observation and practice again and again2 and each time with satisfactory result4 ,the materials required for the lessons are within everybody's reach4 ,there is nothing that appeals to the heart of the ordinary child like living things1 be they animal or vegetable1 and there is no branch of education at the present day that bears1 in the young mind1 such excellent fruit as the study of the simple1 living things around us4 ,your child is nothing if not curious4 ,he wants to understand everything that lives in his bright little world4 ,nature ,study involves so many ingenious little deductions1 that the reasoning powers are almost constantly employed1 and intelligence grows proportionately4 ,the child's powers of observation are stimulated1 and his memory is cultivated in the way most pleasing to his inquiring nature4 ,by drawing his specimens1 no matter how roughly or rapidly1 his eye is trained more thoroughly than any amount of enforced copying of stiff1 uninteresting models of prisms1 cones1 etc41 ever could train it4 ,the love of flowers and animals is one of the most commendable traits in the disposition of the wondering child1 and ought to be encouraged above all others4 ,a few lessons on ,nature ,phenomena are added4 ,it is the author's fondest and most sanguine hope that his little pupils may study further the great book of ,nature1 whose broad pages are ever open to us1 and whose silent answers to our manifold questions are never very difficult to read4 ,t4 ,w4 ,h4 ,,contents ,,lesson ,,page ,i4 ,how ,plants take ,food from the ,soil 7#a7 #e ,,ii4 ,how ,plants take ,food from the ,soil 7#b7 #ac ,,iii4 ,the ,weasel and the ,otter #bj ,,iv4 ,dwellers in the ,corn ,field #bg ,v4 ,harvest ,time #cc ,,vi4 ,the ,squirrel #dj ,,vii4 ,how the ,fire ,burns #dh ,,viii4 ,the ,fire-,balloon #ee ,,ix4 ,the ,gull #fa ,x4 ,dew1 ,frost1 ,rain #fh 8,,look ,,about ,,you40 ,,book ,,ii4 ,i4--,,how ,,plants ,,take ,,food ,,from ,,the ,,soil 7#a74 ,uncle ,george had taught his little friends many things from what he called the ,book of ,nature1 and what they had learnt made them eager to know more4 ,one day as ,dolly1 the boys1 and ,uncle ,george were in the garden they saw that a tulip1 which the day before was in full bloom and strong1 was now lying dead on the ground4 8,poor little tulip60 said ,dolly4 ,both the boys were sorry too4 ,they had watched it come through the ground like a blade of grass1 open out its bud1 and expand its bloom4 ,now all was over4 ,the little flower would no longer enjoy the bright sunshine or the rain4 ,it would no longer send forth its rootlets in search of the food it so much liked4 8,have you ever thought1 ,dolly1 how the tulip1 and indeed all plants1 take their food from the soil80 asked ,uncle ,george4 8,i know they must feed in some way10 said ,dolly1 8or they would not grow4 ,but ,i do not know how they do it40 8,should you like to know1 ,dolly80 asked ,uncle ,george4 8,indeed ,i should10 said the little girl4 ,the boys were just as eager as ,dolly to know about this1 so ,uncle ,george and the children went indoors for a lesson4 8,i cannot tell you how plants take their food from the soil without first of all showing you what happens when water and soil are mixed together in a tumbler10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,tom will fetch me a tumbler1 and you1 ,frank1 bring me a little water40 ,when these were brought1 ,uncle ,george put a spoonful of soil into the tumbler1 and then poured some water on it4 8,stir it up1 please1 ,dolly10 said ,uncle ,george1 8and you may pretend you are going to make a pudding40 ,dolly did so4 8,now let us put it aside for a few minutes1 while we place the flowers we have gathered into the vases10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,then we will look at our tumbler of muddy water40 ,how pretty the flowers were made to look6 ,how fresh they were6 and how pleasant was their scent6 ,the children hardly thought of the tumbler1 but ,uncle ,george was ready now for the lesson4 ,illustration3 ,glass of ,mud and ,water4 8,look6 look1 at the tumbler10 said he4 8,do you see a change80 8,indeed we do10 said all the children in one voice4 8,the mud has sunk to the bottom of the glass10 added ,tom1 8and the water on the top is clear40 ,uncle ,george poured some of the clear water into a clean flat dish4 ,then he took a spirit-lamp from a little cabinet1 and heated the water in the dish with it4 ,the children watched to see what would happen4 ,soon a cloud was seen over the dish1 and by and by all the water had gone4 8,but what is that at the bottom of the dish80 asked ,uncle ,george4 8,it looks like powder10 said ,frank4 8,and it must have been in the water all the time10 added ,tom4 ,illustration3 ,evaporating ,salt ,water4 8,and yet the water was clear10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,look once more40 ,as he spoke1 ,uncle ,george took a glass of clean water from the tap4 ,he put two large spoonfuls of salt in1 and stirred it up4 8,you see10 he said1 8the salt has gone from sight4 ,still the water is clear4 ,where has it gone80 8,into the water10 said ,tom4 ,uncle ,george put more salt in the water1 and stirred it up4 ,he kept on doing this until the water would take up no more salt1 no matter how much it was stirred4 ,this he called brine4 8,now1 ,frank1 please go and ask mother for a fresh egg10 he said1 8and you1 ,tom1 please bring me some fresh water in another glass40 ,illustration3 ,egg floating in ,salt ,water4 ,uncle ,george placed the egg in the glass in which the salt had been put1 and it floated in it4 ,he then placed the egg in the glass of fresh water1 and it at once sank to the bottom4 8,can you explain this60 he said4 8,the salt water is heavier and thicker than the fresh water4 ,that is why it bears up the egg10 said ,frank4 8,that is very good indeed1 ,frank4 ,that is just the reason4 ,the salt water or brine is denser1 or heavier1 than the other40 ,uncle ,george next took a glass tube with a thistle-shaped bulb at the end of it4 ,frank kept his finger on the small end1 while his uncle poured some of the brine into the bulb4 ,he next tied a piece of bladder skin over the bulb1 and placed it in a glass of fresh water1 so that the salt water in the tube was at the same level as the fresh water in the glass4 ,then he took two small glass bottles4 ,he filled one with fresh water and the other with brine1 and tied a piece of bladder skin over the mouth of each4 ,the one which was filled with brine he placed in a larger dish of fresh water4 ,the other1 that is the one filled with fresh water1 he placed in a dish of brine4 8,now1 children1 we will go and have tea10 he said1 8and when we come back we will see if any change has taken place40 ,about an hour later ,uncle ,george1 ,dolly1 and the boys came back4 8,oh10 said ,frank1 8look1 ,uncle ,george6 ,the water has risen up in the thistle tube40 8,yes1 how do you account for that1 ,frank80 8,some of the fresh water has passed through the skin10 ,frank answered4 8,now taste the water in the glass outside the skin10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,it was fresh water when we put it in1 wasn't it80 ,frank did so4 ,tom tasted it too4 ,both boys declared that it was now salt4 8,where did the salt taste come from80 their uncle asked4 8,it must have come through the skin10 said ,tom4 8,then some of the salt water in the thistle tube has passed through the skin into the glass2 and some of the fresh water in the glass has passed through the skin into the thistle tube4 ,can you tell me any more80 ,frank thought for a little while and then said1 8,oh yes1 more fresh water than salt water has passed through the skin1 because the salt water is now far up the tube40 8,quite right1 my boy4 ,now let us look at the small bottles4 ,the skin on the one filled with brine is swollen out like a ball1 while the water in the dish tastes salt4 ,the skin of the other is drawn far in1 showing us that much of the fresh water which it contained has passed out4 ,if you taste the water in this bottle1 you will find that a very little of the brine in the dish has passed into it through the skin4 8,now what we learn from these things is really this--that when two liquids1 a heavy and a light one1 are separated by a thin skin1 they both pass through the skin4 ,the heavy liquid passes through slowly1 and the light liquid passes through quickly40 ,uncle ,george then placed some small seeds on a piece of wet blotting-paper4 ,he turned a glass tumbler upside down1 and placed it over them4 8,we will leave these for a few days10 he said4 ,questions and ,exercises4 #a4 ,boil some river-water in a flat dish until all the water is gone4 ,do the same with some sea-water1 or1 if this is not at hand1 make some brine4 ,examine the two dishes1 and tell what you see4 #b4 ,take a glass gas chimney1 and tie a piece of bladder1 or parchment1 over one end of it4 ,half fill it with sugar and water4 ,now place it with its tied-up end bottommost in a tumbler of clear cold water4 ,after an hour or so taste the water in the tumbler4 ,what have you to say about it8 #c4 ,what takes place when brine and clear water are separated from one another by a piece of skin 7parchment78 ,illustration3 ,a ,box of ,mustard ,seeds4 ,,ii4--,,how ,,plants ,,take ,,food ,,from ,,the ,,soil 7#b74 ,a whole week went by before ,uncle ,george was ready for the next lesson4 ,at last he called the children and said to them--8,tom1 will you please fetch me the seeds which we put on the wet blotting-paper under the tumbler8 ,frank1 bring me two leafy branches from a rose-bush in the garden2 and1 ,dolly1 please fetch two glasses from the kitchen40 ,now there was nothing the children liked better than to help their ,uncle ,george1 and all three rushed off at once to do his bidding4 ,while they were away ,uncle ,george himself went into the garden1 dug up two young plants1 and brought them to the children in the study4 ,illustration3 ,sun-flower ,plant in ,water4 8,now1 children10 said ,uncle ,george1 8we are ready to begin our lesson4 ,fill one of the glasses with water1 ,frank1 and put one of your leafy rose branches in each glass--one branch in water and the other in a dry glass4 ,can you tell me what will happen to the branches80 ,the children had many times seen what had happened to flowers when the maid had forgotten to put water in the vases1 so that ,tom readily said1 8,yes1 the one in the dry glass will wither1 while the one in the water will keep fresh for some time40 8,how do you know that80 8,because it always happens1 ,uncle10 said ,frank4 8,why1 sometimes the flowers we gather in the wood are faded before we get home4 ,they often come back to life when put in water40 8,you are quite right1 ,frank10 ,uncle ,george replied4 8,see1 here are two young sun-flower plants1 which ,i brought in from the garden4 ,i placed one in water4 ,the other ,i left lying on the table4 ,the one on the table is dead4 ,what does this show us80 ,illustration3 ,the ,sun-flower1 faded4 8,that plants require water10 said ,tom4 8,that whenever you cut off their water supply they die40 8,quite right1 ,tom4 ,we shall see by and by that plants are always giving off a great deal of water to the air from their leaves4#a ,where do they get this water from80 8,it must be from the soil10 said ,frank4 8,it must be10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,if we keep a plant in a pot without watering it1 it soon dies4 ,all the water it contains will by and by travel up to the leaves4 ,it passes out through tiny pores in the leaves into the air4 ,if no more water comes up from the soil1 the plant withers and dies4 ,the roots of plants search the soil in all directions for water4 ,and in this water there is but little plant-food4 ,we saw this when we boiled away the clear water which covered the soil in the glass4 8,if we boil away some water from the tap1 we shall find some solid matter left behind in the dish4 ,thus we see that in order to get a small quantity of food1 plants take up a great quantity of water from the soil4 ,most of the water is sent into the air from the leaves4 ,but the food stuff remains in the plant1 just as it did in the dish4 8,now ,i am going to show you how this water gets into the plant4 ,look at these little seeds on the damp blotting-paper6 8,each seed has a small plant with a long root1 and small1 stout green leaves4 ,look at the roots and tell me what you see80 8,they are covered with silky stuff10 said ,frank4 8,yes4 ,now take this glass1 which will make things look bigger than they really are1 and look at the roots once more40 8,the silky stuff is a number of fine hairs10 said ,frank4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,otter ,illustration3 ,,field-,,mice 8,that is quite right1 ,frank10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,these are the root-hairs4 ,each of these hairs is a long bag or sac1 of very thin skin4 ,it is filled with a liquid called sap1 which is slightly denser1 or heavier1 than the water in the blotting-paper4 ,now1 do you see how a plant takes food from the soil1 when it is growing in the garden or in a field80 8,yes1 ,i think ,i do10 said ,frank4 8,the water in the soil contains very little plant-food4 ,the water inside the tiny sac contains very much40 8,and what have you to say1 ,tom80 8,one of these liquids is denser than the other10 said ,tom4 8,both are separated by a thin skin4 ,the lighter liquid outside the sac will pass into it quickly1 while the heavier liquid will pass out slowly40 8,bravo6 ,tom60 said ,uncle ,george4 8,i couldn't have given a better reply myself4 ,the water from the soil passes in quickly4 ,the sap from the inside of each root-hair passes out slowly4 ,if they were both of the same density1 neither would pass through the skin4 ,if the water in the soil were the denser1 then the sap would pass out so quickly that the plant would soon be robbed of its water4 8,here are two young plants1 each growing in a small pot4 ,i want you to water them1 ,tom4 ,water one with salt and water 7brine71 the other with tap-water40 ,tom did as he was asked4 ,illustration3 ,plants watered with ,fresh and ,salt ,water4 8,see10 said ,uncle ,george1 8the one which you watered with brine is drooping4 ,it is bending over the pot4 ,that is because the water outside its root-hairs is denser than that which is inside the plant40 8,how does the water get up from the roots to the leaves80 ,frank asked4 8,just in the same way as the oil travels up the wick of the lamp4 ,water will always travel up through small spaces40 ,uncle ,george poured some red ink into a saucer1 and dipped the corner of a lump of sugar into it4 ,the red ink ran up into the sugar until it was red all over4 ,next he took a bundle of very small glass tubes1 and dipped the ends of them in the ink4 ,the ink ran up the tubes1 filling them to the top4 8,inside every plant10 ,uncle ,george went on1 8there are thousands of long tiny tubes1 up which the water travels4 ,in fact the veins of a leaf are just bundles of tubes1 something like the bundle ,i hold in my hand40 ,questions and ,exercises4 #a4 ,why do branches wither quickly when cut from the tree8 ,how would you keep them from withering quickly8 #b4 ,place two small panes of clean glass close together4 ,dip the corner of them in coloured water1 and watch what happens4 #c4 ,why do we never see the silky root-hairs when we dig or pull a plant out of the ground8 ,,iii4--,,the ,,weasel ,,and ,,the ,,otter4 ,it was ,frank who wanted to follow the stream far up towards the hills4 ,he wished to see where it began1 for he had heard that its source was in several small streams many miles away4 ,uncle ,george agreed to take the children as far up the stream as they could walk1 without being tired4 ,soon they were far up above the wood1 and the fields1 and the pond4 ,frank was not in the least sorry when his uncle sat down on a large stone by the side of the stream4 8,we shall not go much farther10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,some other day we will4 ,but tell me what you think of the country round about you40 8,it is very wild and lonely10 said ,tom4 8,there are no fields of corn2 nothing but green hills and moorland4 ,yet it is very grand40 8,the flowers and plants are not like those of the valley10 said ,tom4 8,the stream1 too1 is different4 ,here it is a noisy1 rushing course of clear1 lovely water4 ,down below it is a lazy-flowing stream40 8,it is not always so clear10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,after heavy rains this stream is swollen and brown40 8,look6 look60 cried ,dolly4 8,what is that on the other side of the stream80 ,sure enough there was something moving about4 ,now it turned round and opened its mouth1 showing two rows of sharp1 white teeth4 ,then1 with a harsh cry that could be heard above the noise of the water1 it bolted away4 ,there was just time for all to see the creature1 which ,tom at once called a weasel4 8,yes1 a weasel it is10 said ,uncle ,george2 8it is one of the animals which prey on rabbits and young hares4 ,look6 there it is again40 ,the children looked1 and saw it quite clearly4 ,there it was1 a pretty little animal of a black and brown colour1 with just a little white on its breast4 ,it sat up1 and was holding something in its fore paws4 8,ah60 said ,uncle ,george1 8our little friend is a thief4 ,he has found a nest1 and that is an egg he has stolen from it4 ,let us see what he will do with it40 ,illustration3 ,the ,weasel at ,home4 ,in a moment or two ,master ,weasel tucked the egg under his chin and was off once more4 8,what a dear little thing1 to be sure60 said ,dolly4 8,how quaint to carry an egg in that way60 8,it looks pretty1 that is certain10 said ,uncle ,george1 8but it is a dreadful foe to the smaller animals of the field4 ,there are other foes1 too1 and ,i hope we may see some of them before we return40 ,the boys were glad to hear their uncle say this1 and they asked him to take them1 now they were rested1 a little farther up the stream4 ,all of them made a start4 ,by and by they came to a place where the stream made a kind of pool4 ,the pool was bounded on each side by high rocks4 ,at the top end the water came down with a rush from a great height4 ,it was a very lonely spot indeed2 and1 except for the noise of the water1 nothing could be heard4 ,on and on they went4 ,uncle ,george told them of the stoat1 the polecat1 and the marten1 all of which1 he said1 were foes of the smaller animals4 ,tom kept a sharp look out1 and hoped he would see at least one of these4 ,as luck would have it1 a dull splash was heard in the water a little way in front of them4 ,all of them looked towards the spot4 8,down1 boys1 down6 and keep quite still10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,hide behind these big stones4 ,we shall have a treat40 ,swimming on the surface of the water was an animal as large as a good-sized dog4 ,now it dived to the bottom4 ,the ripples on the water showed that the animal was swimming underneath4 ,the children held their breaths and watched4 ,not in vain2 for there1 on the other side of the stream1 the animal came out of the water4 ,it held a fish which it had caught4 8,now10 said ,uncle ,george1 8we have a fine chance to look at our new friend4 ,that animal is the otter4 ,see6 ,its body is pretty flat2 its legs are short1 and its toes are webbed like those of the duck4 ,look at its round nose and its small ears4 ,if we were closer to it we should see that there is a fold of skin which can be turned over the ears while the creature is in the water40 8,how fierce it looks60 broke in ,dolly1 8and how its eyes gleam60 8,it is glad to have caught the fish1 ,i should think10 said ,frank4 ,uncle ,george raised his hand to hold the children in silence4 ,then he went on in a soft voice4 8,look at its flat tail1 which is pointed at the tip4 ,the otter uses his tail as a rudder to guide him in the water4 ,see how sleek his dark brown skin is4 ,it is now nearly dry1 though he has only just come out of the stream40 8,let us drive him away10 said ,dolly1 who could not help but feel sorry for the poor fish4 ,there was no need for this1 however1 as1 just at that moment1 the otter turned towards the party1 showing1 as he did so1 a lovely white throat4 ,he had heard them speaking1 and was off like a flash1 leaving the fish on the rock4 ,the fish had an ugly bite in its back1 and was quite dead4 8,poor1 dear little thing60 cried ,dolly4 8,what a shame to kill you60 8,it is the otter's nature10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,he does a great deal of good1 for he kills many water-voles1 or rats1 as they are sometimes called1 as well as frogs and water insects4 ,sometimes1 however1 he does harm1 for he catches salmon1 trout1 and wild-ducks4 ,he seems to do this more for sport than for food1 for he only eats small portions of his prey40 ,questions and ,exercises4 #a4 ,write down the names of some animals you would expect to find if you walked along the bank of a stream4 #b4 ,describe the ,otter and the ,weasel4 ,tell in what way they are like and unlike4 ,illustration3 ,common and ,ox-eye ,daisy compared4 ,,iv4--,,dwellers ,,in ,,the ,,corn ,,field4 ,as ,uncle ,george walked by the edge of the corn field1 ,dolly and her two brothers ran up to him4 ,dolly carried a bunch of huge daisies in her hand4 8,we want you to tell us about these1 ,uncle ,george10 she said4 8,tom says that these are the little field daisies grown up2 and ,frank says they are not40 8,frank is right10 said ,uncle ,george1 laughing4 8,this is not the common field daisy4 ,it is the ox-eye daisy4 ,you might bring me a common daisy1 ,frank4 ,i am sure there are many growing near4 ,ah1 here is one at our feet6 ,now let us hold them side by side4 8,you can see that they are unlike one another in many ways4 ,the ox-eye daisy has much larger leaves and flowers4 ,it bears its leaves and flowers on tall1 strong stalks4 ,the leaves of the common daisy lie almost flat on the ground1 and there is only one little flower-head on each stalk4 ,when we get home we shall look at them both more closely40 8,oh1 look at those big yellow daisies growing among the corn10 said ,dolly4 8,and ,i see some blue flowers near them10 said ,tom4 8,the yellow flower is the moon-daisy4 ,it is also called the corn-marigold4 ,it is a great deal like the two daisies we have just been talking about4 ,the other is the blue cornflower4 ,it belongs to the same great family as the daisies4 ,frank will go and fetch us some40 ,frank gathered a bunch of both flowers4 ,he was just reaching over for some large red poppies when he saw a pair of small black cunning eyes peering at him4 ,then a brown creature ran past him and went out of sight among the long grass at the edge of the field4 8,a rat6 a rat6 ,uncle ,george60 he shouted4 8,yes1 it is a rat1 ,i saw it10 said his uncle4 8,but what is he doing out in the fields80 said ,frank4 8,i always thought that rats lived in houses40 8,the brown rat lives where he can10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,very likely this one has come from the farm4 ,farm-yard rats often come out and live among the long grass and reeds in summer-time4 ,when the cold weather comes1 and the crops are gathered1 they go back to the stables and barns4 ,there they rob the farmer4 ,they are very cunning creatures4 ,they steal eggs1 milk1 grain1 and even kill and carry away young chickens4 ,the rat lives by thieving4 ,that is why he is killed whenever he shows his face4 8,rats are sometimes useful1 though4 ,they swarm in ship docks and places where stuff is left about4 ,they eat up what would rot and poison the air4 ,they thus help to keep down disease4 8,now1 boys1 before we go home ,i am going to show you something4 ,i found it the other day when taking a walk40 ,uncle ,george led the children to the end of the field1 and pointed to a strange object among the corn4 ,it was a nest of some sort4 ,it was made of dried grass1 and hung from five or six wheat stalks4 ,it was round like a cricket-ball1 and just about as big4 8,it is the nest of the harvest-mouse10 said ,uncle ,george in a low voice4 8,keep still1 and perhaps we shall see ,mistress ,mousie40 ,the children waited a long time looking at the curious little object4 ,at last a tiny brown creature ran up one of the wheat stalks and went into the nest4 ,it seemed to go right through the wall of its little house4 ,there was no hole to be seen where it went in4 ,then ,uncle ,george clapped his hands4 ,at once two wee brown mice came out4 ,they slid down the corn stalks and were out of sight in a moment4 8,ha6 ,mr and ,mrs ,mousie1 we have disturbed you10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,we will now go nearer and see your nest40 8,i can't see where they came out10 said ,tom4 8,there is no hole to be seen40 ,uncle ,george pointed out to the children how the nest was woven together and fixed to the wheat stalks4 ,he then took a pencil from his pocket and moved aside some of the dried grass4 ,the children looked in and saw a family of naked little mice cuddled up together4 ,they could not tell how many there were2 but ,uncle ,george said that there were eight or nine young ones as a rule in a harvest-mouse's nest4 8,what will become of these wee mice when the corn is ripe80 ,tom asked4 8,they will perhaps be grown up and able to take care of themselves by that time1 ,tom10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,the harvest-mouse stores up corn in its nest4 ,before winter comes it makes a hole in the ground4 ,here it sleeps through most of the winter and spring4 ,it wakes up from time to time and feeds upon its store of grains40 8,it is much smaller and browner than our house-mouse10 said ,frank4 8,yes1 ,frank1 it is our smallest four-footed animal4 ,we have many kinds of mice in this country4 ,the brown rat is the largest and the harvest-mouse is the smallest of our mouse family40 8,how does it manage to slide down the wheat stalk so quickly without falling off80 ,tom asked4 8,it can use its long tail as well as its feet for climbing10 his uncle answered4 8,when it wishes to get to the ground it just coils its little tail round the stalk and slides down40 ,questions and ,exercises4 #a4 ,name some flowers that grow among the corn in summer and in autumn4 #b4 ,describe the ,rat4 #c4 ,do you know any other animals that have teeth like the rat8 #d4 ,what other animals1 besides the harvest-mouse1 store up food for the winter8 ,illustration3 ,,harvest ,,time ,illustration3 ,,the ,,squirrel ,v4--,,harvest ,,time4 8,they are very busy here10 said ,uncle ,george1 as he went into the field with ,frank1 ,tom1 and ,dolly4 ,and well might he say so1 for the whirr of the reaping-machine could be heard far away4 ,round the field it went1 sweeping down the golden wheat4 ,following behind it were several girls1 who twisted bands of straw and laid them on the ground4 ,behind these came women who quickly gathered up the cut wheat and placed it in bundles upon the bands4 ,then came men who bound these bundles into sheaves and tossed them aside4 ,after these1 again1 came men who caught up the sheaves and placed them upright in bunches of six or eight4 ,these bunches of sheaves they called 8stooks40 ,last of all came a huge rake drawn by horses1 gathering up all the straws that were left4 ,every now and then the man that guided the rake pressed an iron bar1 and1 whenever he did so1 all the teeth of the rake rose up at once1 and left a row of gathered straw on the field4 ,then a man came and bound them into rough sheaves as before4 ,all was work and bustle and noise4 ,what with the whirr of the reaping-machine1 the girls singing as they worked1 the larks singing in the sky1 and the glorious autumn sun1 the children thought the harvest-field was the most cheerful place they had ever seen4 8,why do you do that80 ,frank asked a man who was fixing up the stooks4 8,would it not be just as well if you left the sheaves lying on the ground until you cart them away80 8,ah1 no1 ,master ,frank10 said the man1 who knew him well1 8that would never do4 ,we must allow the corn time to get dry1 so we place the sheaves upright that the sun and wind may dry them2 and so that any rain that falls may run down the stalks to the ground4 ,when the sheaves are quite dry1 we take them home to the stack-yard40 8,how long does that take80 ,frank asked4 8,it all depends on the weather10 the man replied4 8,if it keeps fine1 they will be dry within a week4 ,in rainy weather1 sometimes the sheaves have to stand in the fields for some weeks4 ,in the next field the crop was cut a week ago4 ,they are taking it home now40 ,illustration3 ,the ,stack-yard4 8,and you build the sheaves into great stacks there80 said ,tom4 8,yes1 it is kept in stacks until we are ready to thresh it4 ,you must all come over to the farm and see it being threshed into grain and straw some day40 8,but why do you build it into stacks80 asked ,frank4 8,so that we may keep it through the winter1 and thresh a stack at a time as we need it10 the man replied4 8,it is threshed by passing it through a mill4 ,at our farm the mill is turned by horses4 ,at some farms there are mills turned by a great water-wheel4 ,sometimes a steam-engine comes and threshes the whole crop in the fields40 8,and what do you do with it when it is threshed80 ,dolly asked4 8,when the corn is passed through the mill1 it is so shaken up that all the grain is removed from the stalks4 ,the grain comes out at one side of the mill and falls into sacks4 ,the straw is tossed out at another part4 ,we use the straw for bedding for horses and cows1 and some kinds of straw we use for feeding them4 ,the grain goes to the miller1 who grinds it into flour4 ,the flour goes to the baker1 who bakes it into bread40 8,come along1 boys60 ,uncle ,george shouted from the next field4 8,we are going over to the farmyard to see the stacks made40 ,in the next field the farmer's men were loading a waggon with sheaves of corn4 ,the sheaves were caught up by long pitch-forks and tossed on to the waggon4 ,here a man put them into a great square load4 ,when this was done1 the men lifted ,dolly up1 and she rode up to the farmyard on the top of the great load of sheaves4 ,in the stack-yard a large round stack was being built4 ,a wooden frame was in the middle1 and round this a man put the sheaves in a circle as they were thrown to him from the waggon4 8,now1 boys10 said ,uncle ,george1 8,dolly wants to know why sheaves are made with all the ears of corn at one end4 ,can you tell us80 8,oh1 that is easy10 said ,tom4 8,the sheaves have to stand in the field for a long time to dry4 ,they could not stand up so well if they were made any other way4 ,besides1 the ears of corn must be up from the ground1 or they would be broken off40 8,there is another reason10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,look how the stack is being made4 ,the top1 or grain end of the sheaf is inside4 ,the outside of the stack is made up of the cut ends of the straws4 ,thus the grain is kept secure from bad weather and thieving birds4 ,besides1 the stack could not be made round in shape if they were placed in any other way4 ,the bottom of the sheaf is much wider than the top40 ,in another part of the yard men were busy roofing the newly built stacks with straw4 ,the straw roof was tied down with many ropes1 also made of twisted straw1 and then the stack was ready4 8,what a lot of work there is in getting corn10 said ,frank4 8,ah1 yes10 said his uncle1 8much more work than we have seen to-day4 ,think of the work done in the fields in spring1 getting the land ready for seed--the work of ploughing1 sowing1 reaping1 and threshing done by the farmer's men and horses--the work done by the rain and sun in growing and ripening the wheat--the work done by the miller and baker2 and all this1 ,frank1 that we may have a loaf of bread40 ,questions and ,exercises4 #a4 ,tell the story of a wheat plant from the time it begins to grow from the seed until it is ready to be cut4 #b4 ,where does the making of a loaf of bread really begin8 ,from what you have learnt in the lesson1 trace the history of a loaf of bread4 #c4 ,make a list of crops grown on the farm1 and tell the use of each4 ,,vi4--,,the ,,squirrel4 8,halloa6 there he goes again10 said ,frank1 as he watched a nimble little animal leaping from branch to branch1 and from tree-top to tree-top4 8,he will fall if he does not take care40 8,no fear of that10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,his home is among the tree-tops4 ,he never falls4 ,that is a squirrel1 and ,i should not be surprised if his nest is somewhere near4 ,let us sit down on this bank and watch40 ,as he spoke1 ,uncle ,george took his pair of field-glasses out of the leather case which he sometimes carried on a strap across his shoulder1 when he went out to watch the birds4 8,now1 ,mr ,squirrel10 he said1 8we can watch your antics from a distance4 ,you are a very cunning and clever little chap1 no doubt40 ,when ,uncle ,george and ,dolly and the two boys first saw the squirrel1 the little creature was on the ground1 bobbing about among the ferns and the grass4 ,the moment it saw them1 however1 it bounded into a tree1 going swiftly up by jerk after jerk1 and always keeping on the far side of the trunk4 ,they could just see its bushy tail1 first at one side of the trunk and then1 much higher up1 at the other side4 ,when it reached the top part of the tree1 it leapt from branch to branch in the most daring manner4 8,we have alarmed the creature10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,but if we sit here quite still for a little while1 ,mr ,squirrel will get over his fright4 ,ah1 there he is40 ,uncle ,george handed the glasses to ,frank4 8,now1 tell us what you see10 he said1 8and then ,tom and ,dolly shall each take a look40 8,he is sitting up on his hind legs10 said ,frank4 8,his great1 bushy tail is bent right over his head4 ,he is holding a little green thing in his fore-paws4 ,ah1 he is eating it4 ,look ,dolly60 and ,frank handed the glasses to his little sister4 8,oh1 what a lovely little animal10 said ,dolly2 8and what pretty eyes he has4 ,they are just like a pair of bright1 black beads40 8,i think ,tom ought to have the glasses now10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,he has been very patient indeed4 ,come ,tom1 tell us what the squirrel is like40 ,tom took the glasses and looked through them for a long time4 ,then he said1 8,he is a very pretty creature1 as ,dolly has said4 ,his colour is rich brown all over1 except the front part of his body1 which is a very light brown1 changing almost to white4 ,his tail is very large and bushy1 and his ears are upright and tufted with brown hair4 ,his fore-paws are just like little hands4 ,he holds the nut in them and nibbles it just like a little monkey4 ,his head is not unlike the rabbit's head4 ,his teeth are almost exactly like rabbit's teeth4 ,they are chisel-shaped1 and seem to be very sharp40 8,splendid1 ,tom10 said his uncle1 patting him on the back1 8,i don't think you have left anything out4 ,now1 let me look40 8,oh1 there is another one4 ,there are now two of them10 said ,frank4 8,where did that one come from80 asked his uncle1 looking through the glasses4 8,it seemed to come out of the tree1 did it not80 8,i thought you children would leave me nothing to find out2 but ,i see something which you have missed4 ,here1 ,frank1 take the glasses and see if you can find it4 ,look at the fork of the tree just below where the squirrels are40 8,i see something like a nest10 said ,frank4 8,i noticed that before1 but ,i thought it was a rook's nest40 8,nay10 said his uncle1 8it is a squirrel's nest4 ,rooks build on the very top branches of trees1 and you never see one rook's nest without a lot of others near it4 ,besides1 the rook's nest is a rough flat nest1 while this is a round one with a roof on it1 and a hole in the side to let the squirrels out and in40 8,then that other squirrel must have come out of the nest10 said ,frank4 8,just so10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,that is ,mrs ,squirrel4 ,she has come out to get some food1 and her little husband will look after the family while she is away hunting for nuts and buds and soft green bark4 8,if we could get up to that nest1 we should find it to be built of twigs and moss cleverly woven together4 8,the inside is lined with soft warm moss and dry leaves4 ,we should1 most likely1 find four or more tiny squirrels cuddled up together inside4 ,blind1 naked1 helpless things they are at first4 ,but they soon grow up1 and their long bare tails become bushy4 ,then the little mother teaches them to climb and find food for themselves4 ,should one of them fall1 she springs down and carries it up to the nest in her mouth1 just as a cat carries her kittens4 8,by autumn these young squirrels will be quite as clever as their parents4 ,autumn is the squirrel's busy time4 ,he has to prepare for the long winter1 for no nuts are to be found then4 ,so the squirrel gathers in his harvest of nuts4 ,these he hides in secret places buried in the ground4 ,he usually has more than one storing-place4 ,in fact1 he sometimes has so many that he forgets about some of them40 8,we never see squirrels in winter10 said ,tom4 8,no1 because the squirrel sleeps the whole winter through4 ,after he has gathered his harvest1 he looks for a snug hole deep under an old tree-stump4 ,this he lines with dry leaves and pieces of bark4 ,when the weather becomes very cold he seeks his winter nest1 coils his body up so that his great tail is folded almost right round him1 and falls fast asleep4 ,cold makes him drowsy1 but warmth wakes him up4 ,on a mild winter's day he wakes up1 crawls out of his hole1 and visits his store of nuts4 ,after he has made a good meal of them1 he goes back to his bed again1 and sleeps on until hunger and mild weather wake him up4 8,during autumn the squirrel's coat is very pretty4 ,it is of a deep1 rich brown colour1 and very thick4 ,his tail is then very large and bushy1 and he is quite fat and sleek4 8,when he comes out of his sleeping quarters in spring he is thin and hungry4 ,his coat is then a very pale brown40 8,what does he do for food in spring80 asked ,tom4 8,there are no nuts to be found then40 8,alas1 no1 ,tom4 ,in spring he robs birds' nests of their eggs1 and that is why the pretty little squirrel is hunted and shot by the game-keeper4 ,in spring1 too1 he feeds on the tender buds1 and so does much damage to trees and shrubs2 that is1 if his winter stores are used up40 8,i should think10 said ,frank1 8that such a large tail would be very much in the squirrel's way when climbing and leaping from branch to branch40 8,not at all10 said his uncle1 8his huge tail is of the greatest use to him in guiding his body4 ,without it he could not take such flying leaps among the tree-tops4 8,besides this1 it often enables him to escape from his enemies4 ,many a time the game-keeper's bullets pass harmlessly through his fluffy tail1 while ,mr ,squirrel scampers safely up the tree2 and many a time he escapes from the cat by leaving the tip of his brush in pussy's claws4 8,a great many of our trees have been planted by squirrels4 ,many a stately oak and beech tree has sprung from the squirrel's buried store of acorns and beech nuts4 ,for1 as ,i have already told you1 sometimes he forgets where he has buried them1 or perhaps fails to find them when the forest is white with snow4 ,so1 you see1 the little animal is of some use after all40 ,questions and ,exercises4 #a4 ,the squirrel has chisel-shaped teeth suited for gnawing4 ,name other animals of the same kind4 #b4 ,the squirrel's bushy tail is of great use to him4 ,why8 #c4 ,make a list of our wild animals 7#a7 which sleep through the winter1 and 7#b7 which store up food for winter4 ,,vii4--,,how ,,the ,,fire ,,burns4 ,it was a cold wet day--so cold and wet that neither ,dolly nor her brothers could venture out4 ,they had grown tired of reading books and drawing pictures1 and were indeed feeling very dull4 ,they sat looking at the bright fire4 ,uncle ,george laid down his paper and said3 8,come1 let us have a lesson4 ,what shall it be8 ,the rain8 ,the cat8 ,or shall it be the cosy fireside80 8,the fire10 said ,frank4 8,tell us why the fire burns1 ,uncle ,george60 8,i will10 said cheery ,uncle ,george4 8,just wait until ,i get some things from the kitchen4 ,come along1 boys40 ,when ,uncle ,george and the boys came back to the room1 they brought a lot of curious articles with them4 ,these were an empty pickle-bottle1 a small saucer1 a glass bell-jar1 a large dish1 a piece of candle1 some tacks1 and a taper4 ,illustration3 ,a ,baby ,cloud ,illustration3 ,,the ,,balloon 8,now10 said ,uncle ,george1 8we are ready to begin40 ,he first lighted the piece of candle and lowered it into the bottle4 ,it burned for a short time1 then it went out4 8,can you tell me why it goes out80 he asked4 8,want of air10 said ,tom and ,frank at the same time4 8,but there is air in the bottle10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,yes1 but not the kind of air the candle wants10 said ,frank4 ,illustration3 ,candle burning in ,open ,jar4 8,that is a queer answer1 ,frank4 ,the candle burned for a time in the bottle before it went out40 8,because it used up that part of the air which makes things burn10 said ,frank4 8,that is very good10 said ,uncle ,george4 ,uncle ,george then poured some water into the large dish4 ,he fixed the candle on a big cork1 lighted it and set it floating on the water4 ,then he placed the glass bell-jar over it4 ,but first of all he marked the level of the water on the outside of the bell-jar4 ,very soon the flame of the candle became small1 and at last went out4 ,just then the water inside the bell-jar rose far up above ,uncle ,george's mark4 ,he marked this new level1 and asked the boys if they could tell him why the water rose in the jar4 ,both ,frank and ,tom shook their heads sadly4 ,illustration3 ,candle in ,stoppered ,jar--burning4 8,then ,i must explain10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,some of the air has gone10 said ,tom4 8,yes10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,how much of the air has gone80 ,frank pointed to the space between the two marks4 8,that is right10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,the water has risen up in the bell-jar to take the place of the air that has been used up by the burning of the candle4 ,where has this used-up air gone80 8,it must have gone into the water10 said ,tom4 8,why did it not go into the water before the candle burned80 8,perhaps the burning of the candle has changed this part of the air10 said ,frank4 8,very good1 ,frank4 ,you are right again4 ,the burning of the candle has changed a certain part of the air4 ,it has1 indeed1 so changed it that it can dissolve in water just as if it were sugar or salt40 ,uncle ,george now poured water into the outer dish until it was level with the water inside the bell-jar4 ,then he took out the stopper and pushed a lighted taper into the bell-jar4 ,the taper at once went out4 ,illustration3 ,candle in ,stoppered ,jar--gone out4 8,this shows us10 he said1 8that a part of the air causes things to burn4 ,the other part of the air does not4 ,it puts burning things out4 ,if we blow the fire with a bellows or fan1 it burns more brightly and quickly4 ,why8 ,just because we are forcing a stream of air upon it1 and a part of that stream of air is changed by the burning40 ,uncle ,george next put some bright iron tacks in a small dish4 ,he poured some water out of the large dish1 and placed the bell-jar in the dish4 ,after that he added water until it was just up to his first mark on the bell-jar4 ,then he floated the dish with the tacks on the water4 ,next he wetted the tacks with water1 and then placed the bell-jar over them and put in the stopper4 8,now10 he said1 8we will leave this just as it is for a few days40 ,the boys watched the bell-jar every day1 and this is what they saw4 ,the water rose slowly in the bell-jar4 ,as it rose the bright tacks turned red with rust4 ,the water rose higher and the tacks turned redder every day4 ,at length it rose to ,uncle ,george's second mark4 ,it rose no farther1 although left for a whole week4 ,then ,uncle ,george called the boys and asked them what had taken place in the bell-jar4 8,the tacks have rusted1 and some of the air in the jar has been used up10 said ,frank4 8,how much air has been used up80 ,uncle ,george asked4 8,just exactly the same as was used up when we burned the candle10 said ,tom1 pointing to the top mark4 8,let us see1 then10 said ,uncle ,george1 8what part of the air has gone40 ,he poured water into the large dish until it was level with the water inside the bell-jar4 ,then he put a lighted taper into the bell-jar as before4 ,it went out at once4 8,it is the same part of the air as the burning candle used up10 said ,frank4 8,then we have found out10 said ,uncle ,george1 8that when a thing burns it uses up a certain part of the air2 and that when iron rusts1 exactly the same part of the air is used up4 8,in the first case1 the burning of the candle changed part of the air into a gas which dissolved in the water4 ,in this case1 that same part of the air has joined up to part of the iron tacks to form that red powder which we call rust40 ,questions and ,exercises4 #a4 ,how is rust formed8 #b4 ,explain why things which are made of iron should be painted4 #c4 ,a grate full of coals burns away and only a small quantity of ash is left in the grate4 ,what has become of the coals8 ,,viii4--,,the ,,fire-,,balloon4 ,one day ,uncle ,george made the children a fire-balloon4 ,he took twelve strips of tissue-paper shaped as you see in the picture4 ,these he pasted neatly together at the edges so as to form a kind of bag with a round opening at the bottom4 ,a ring of wire was then fixed at the bottom to keep it firm1 and across the ring was stretched another piece of wire4 ,this was to hold a dry sponge by and by4 ,uncle ,george swung the balloon till it was filled with air4 ,he told ,frank to hold it by the ring while he heated the air inside the balloon4 ,this was done by holding the mouth of the balloon over a piece of rag which had been dipped in spirits and set on fire4 ,illustration3 ,strip for ,balloon4 ,soon ,frank felt the balloon rising4 ,he lifted it up away from the flame1 while ,uncle ,george moved the little sponge along the wire to the middle of the ring4 ,then he soaked the sponge with spirits and set fire to it4 8,let go60 said ,uncle ,george2 and away went the balloon1 soaring up towards the sky4 ,higher and higher it rose1 moving with the wind4 ,the children watched it until at last it seemed a mere dot in the sky1 and then it went quite out of sight4 8,what makes the balloon rise up80 ,dolly asked1 as they returned to the house4 ,for answer ,uncle ,george took a cork and held it under a trough of water4 ,when he let it go1 the cork at once rose to the top of the water4 8,what makes the cork rise up80 he asked4 8,because it is lighter than the water10 said ,tom4 8,for just the same reason the balloon rises in the air10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,our balloon is only a bag filled with air40 8,then the air inside the balloon is lighter than that outside10 said ,frank4 8,yes10 said his uncle4 8,what did we do to it to make it lighter80 8,we heated it10 said ,tom4 8,and what has this taught you80 asked ,uncle ,george4 8,it has taught us10 said ,frank1 8that if we heat air we make it lighter40 8,what takes place is this10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,when a small quantity of air is heated it swells out and fills a much larger space than before4 ,it therefore becomes much lighter than the air round about it1 and rises up through it4 ,come into the house and let us take another lesson from the fire4 ,illustration3 ,strips pasted together4 8,we have already learned that the fire in burning uses up part of the air4 ,after using up this part of the air1 how is it that the fire does not go out80 8,because there is always a fresh supply of air coming into the grate60 said ,frank4 8,quite right4 ,if we stand between the door and the fire we can feel this stream of air4 ,something else is taking place in the grate besides the burning of coal4 ,what is it1 ,tom80 8,air is being heated60 8,very good1 ,tom1 and what becomes of the heated air80 8,it rises up the chimney1 carrying the smoke with it2 just as the heated air in our balloon rose up1 carrying the paper bag with it10 said ,frank4 8,that is really a clever answer1 ,frank4 ,now1 can you tell me what makes this constant stream of cold air from the door to the fireplace80 8,it is the cold air rushing in to take the place of the heated air that has gone up the chimney10 said ,frank4 8,very good indeed1 ,frank10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,and now ,i am going to show you something which will prove all this very nicely40 ,he then took a saucer and poured some water into it4 ,he placed a piece of lighted candle in the middle of the dish and put a lamp chimney over it4 ,the candle burned for a few seconds and then went out4 8,why does the candle go out80 he asked4 8,because it has used up that part of the air which makes things burn10 said ,tom4 8,that is right10 said ,uncle ,george1 and he began to cut a piece of stout card1 shaped like the letter ,t1 but broader every way4 ,the upright part fitted into the top of the lamp chimney4 8,we are now going to give the candle flame a stream of fresh air10 he said1 as he fitted the piece of card into the chimney4 ,the candle was again lit and the chimney placed over it4 ,this time it did not go out4 ,it burned brightly1 and the flame seemed to be blown from side to side4 8,that is very strange10 said ,frank4 ,illustration3 ,draught in ,chimney ,glass4 ,uncle ,george lit a piece of brown paper4 8,you will understand it now10 he said1 as he held smoking paper near the top of the chimney4 ,then the boys saw a stream of smoke go down one side of the card and come up the other side4 8,oh1 ,i see it now10 said ,tom4 8,the card divides the chimney into two4 ,the air1 heated by the candle flame1 rises up one side of the card1 and the cold air goes down the other side to supply its place1 drawing the smoke with it4 ,the candle does not go out now1 because it gets a constant stream of fresh air40 8,are the balloons1 which are large enough to carry people1 fire-balloons80 asked ,dolly4 8,no1 my dear10 replied ,uncle ,george4 8,they are filled with a gas that is lighter--very much lighter--than the air4 ,they rise up easily1 and can carry quite a heavy load40 ,questions and ,exercises4 #a4 ,take an empty bottle and heat it gently4 ,now turn it upside down1 and place the neck of it in cold water4 ,why does the water rise in the bottle8 #b4 ,how is a draught caused8 #c4 ,why does a fire burn more brightly on a cold1 frosty day1 than on a warm summer's day8 ,,ix4--,,the ,,gull4 ,frank1 ,tom1 and ,dolly had never seen the sea4 ,long ago ,uncle ,george had told them that he would take them1 and at last the time came for them to go4 ,it was afternoon when they reached the little sea-side village where they were to spend a few days4 ,the children were filled with wonder when they saw the great1 restless ocean4 ,they watched the waves breaking into white surf1 and gathered sea-weeds and shells on the sandy beach4 ,by and by they all sat down to rest and to watch the gulls1 for there were many here-about4 8,we have seen birds like these before1 have we not80 said ,uncle ,george4 8,yes10 said ,tom1 8we see them at home in the fields at spring-time4 ,but are these the same kind of gulls80 8,yes1 ,tom1 they are4 ,there are several kinds of gulls4 ,here we have just two kinds4 ,the common gull and the tern4 ,you can tell the one from the other even in the distance by their mode of flying4 8,do you see that one flying rapidly over the sea8 ,every now and then he swoops down to the water and skims along1 almost touching it with the tips of his long1 pointed wings4 ,do you know any other bird that flies like that80 ,illustration3 ,gull flying4 8,the swallow flies over the lake at home something like that10 said ,frank4 8,that is so10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,the tern is very like the swallow both in shape and in his manner of flight4 ,he differs1 however1 in size and colour4 ,he is often called the #8sea-swallow1' and is the smallest of the gull family4 8,your swallows at home catch flies and other insects as they skim through the air4 ,the #8sea-swallows' live on fish4 ,every time they dart down they seize and swallow a little fish4 ,but it is done so quickly that you cannot see it4 8,the gull's flight is quite different4 ,sometimes he flies so lazily that he does not seem to move onwards at all4 ,then all of a sudden he darts down into the water to seize his prey4 ,sometimes he flaps his great white wings and wheels swiftly away1 flying in great circles until he is a mere speck in the distance4 ,the gull has a very sharp eye4 ,watch60 ,uncle ,george threw a piece of bread into the sea4 ,at once about a score of gulls pounced upon it1 screaming loudly4 ,uncle ,george waited until they flew away4 ,then he threw them a piece of wood4 ,none of the gulls came near it4 8,you see10 he went on1 8they can tell a piece of bread from a piece of wood at a great distance40 8,then they do not live entirely on fish10 said ,frank1 as his uncle threw them another piece of bread4 ,illustration3 ,gull feeding4 8,oh1 no1 ,frank1 the gull is by no means dainty about his food4 ,nor does he live all the year round at the sea4 ,great flocks of gulls fly inland in spring and autumn4 ,then they live on worms1 grubs1 and whatever else can be picked up in the fields4 ,illustration3 ,,sea-,,gulls ,,and ,,tern 8,we have a fine chance now1 boys1 of watching the gull4 ,see1 there are some walking on the sand quite close to us1 some are floating idly on the sea1 some are flying all round us4 ,they think1 no doubt1 we have lots of bread for them4 ,now then1 boys1 tell me about the common gull40 ,illustration3 ,gull at rest on the water4 8,he is a large bird10 said ,tom4 8,his body is white in colour1 all but his wings and back4 ,these are of a pale bluish-grey40 8,very good1 ,tom10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,come on1 ,frank40 8,he has a large1 greyish-green bill4 ,the tip of it is hooked in shape1 and yellow4 ,his legs are greenish-grey4 ,the three front toes of his feet are webbed40 8,but10 said ,tom1 8,i can see other gulls darker in colour4 ,their bodies are dark brown and grey above and light brown below4 ,what are they80 8,they are the young gulls1 ,tom4 ,they have not got rid of their nest feathers yet40 8,where do they build their nests80 ,dolly asked4 8,high up on the cliffs1 and on lonely rocky islands4 ,like the rooks1 they all nest together4 ,the gull's nest is a very simple thing4 ,it is just a hole scraped in the ground and covered with dried grass4 ,here two1 or perhaps three1 spotted eggs are laid4 ,the gull is very fond of her young4 ,she will not allow them to try to fly from the high cliff4 ,she carries them one by one on her back down to the sea1 and there teaches them to swim4 8,some gulls--the black-headed gull1 for example--go far inland to nest4 ,these build their nests on the shores of small hill lakes4 ,they return to the sea with their young ones in autumn4 8,gulls are clever birds4 ,they are bold and active4 ,the wild ocean is their home4 ,storms bring no fears for them40 ,exercises and ,questions4 #a4 ,tell the life-story of the common gull4 #b4 ,make a list of all the sea birds you know4 #c4 ,the common gull has very large wings1 curious beak and feet4 ,can you explain what these are for8 ,illustration3 ,engine puffing on a cold day4 ,x4--,,dew1 ,,frost1 ,,rain4 8,how is it1 ,uncle ,george1 that there is always a clear space between the spout of the kettle and the puff of steam80 ,it was ,frank that asked the question4 ,he had been watching the kettle boiling for a long time4 8,it is the same with the railway engine10 said ,tom4 8,there is always a big space between the funnel and the puff40 8,that is so10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,but if you watch carefully1 you will notice that the space between the funnel of the engine and the puff of steam is not always of the same size40 ,illustration3 ,engine puffing on a hot day4 8,no10 said ,frank1 8,i have noticed that the white puff is farther away from the funnel on a hot day than on a cold day40 8,that is true10 said his uncle4 8,perhaps you have also noticed that1 as the engine rushes along1 it leaves a long white cloud trailing in the air behind it4 ,sooner or later this long white cloud melts away from sight4 ,it melts away sooner on a hot day than on a cold day4 ,where does it go80 8,it goes into the air10 said ,frank2 8just as the cloud from this kettle goes into the air of the room40 8,very good10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,tom1 will you please fetch me a tumbler full of cold water1 and see that the outside of the glass is quite dry80 ,when ,tom came back with the glass of cold water1 ,uncle ,george wiped it outside with a clean dry cloth4 ,when he was sure that the outside of it was dry1 he placed the tumbler of water on the table in the middle of the warm room4 8,now10 he said1 8let us try to answer ,frank's question about the clear space between the spout of the kettle and the puff of steam4 8,the fact is10 ,uncle ,george went on1 8the white puff which we call steam is not steam at all4 ,we might just as well call it #8water-dust4' ,for it is made up of tiny droplets of water--so tiny that they float in air4 ,steam is water in the form of gas4 ,like the air we breathe1 it cannot be seen4 ,in fact1 this water-gas forms part of the air around us4 ,the clear space between the spout of the kettle and the puff is made up of hot steam4 ,we cannot see it4 ,as it comes out into the colder air1 it is cooled into the tiny droplets which form the puff4 ,it is only when cooled into tiny droplets that we can see it4 8,if you hold any cold object1 such as a knife1 in the puff1 these water particles run together and form large drops upon it4 ,the cloud of water-dust melts away in the room1 as ,frank told us4 ,what takes place is this4 ,the tiny droplets1 when spread out into the warm air1 become real steam1 or #8water-gas1' again4 8,the outside of this tumbler of cold water was quite dry when ,i placed it on the table4 ,run your finger along it and tell me what you find40 ,frank did so1 and said1 8,why1 it is quite wet now40 8,yes10 said ,uncle ,george1 8it is covered all over with very small drops of water4 ,where did this water come from4 ,it could not come through the glass40 8,it is like dew10 said ,tom4 8,it is dew--real dew10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,the water in the glass is much colder than the air around it4 ,the film of air next the glass is cooled1 and the #8water-gas' which this film of air contains is changed into water drops4 8,the earth is heated during the day by the sun1 and the layer of air next to it becomes filled with water-gas4 ,at night the earth gets cold4 ,the water-gas1 if the night is calm1 comes out of the film of air next to the earth4 ,it settles in the form of tiny drops on everything around4 8,when the earth gets very cold1 the water freezes as it changes from gas to water1 and instead of dew we have frost40 8,oh1 that is why we have frost on the inside of the window panes in winter10 said ,frank4 8,that is so10 said his uncle4 8,the frost on your window pane is the water-gas of the warm room changed into particles of ice4 ,but let us come back to our steam puff4 ,we spoke about the long white streak of water-dust which the engine leaves behind it4 ,do you know of anything else like that outside80 8,oh yes10 said ,tom1 8the clouds far up in the sky are very like it40 8,they are10 said ,uncle ,george4 8,in fact1 the clouds in the sky and the cloud behind the engine are just the same kind of thing4 ,they are both made up of tiny particles of water4 8,we have learnt that the streak of cloud left by the steam-engine melts away quickly on a hot day1 also that the puff is farther from the funnel on a hot day4 ,this shows us that the warmer the air is1 the more water can it take up and hold4 ,we have also learnt that warm air is light and rises up4#b 8,what happens when warm air1 which holds much water-gas1 rises up to the higher and colder parts of the sky80 8,it gets cooled10 answered ,frank4 8,yes1 and its water-gas gets cooled too4 ,then we can see it as great masses of water-dust4 ,these masses we call clouds4 ,if these masses of cloud get further cooled1 the tiny water particles run together to form great drops--as they did on the cold knife4 ,they are now too large and heavy to float in the air1 so they fall to the earth as rain40 ,illustration3 ,a ,showery ,day4 ,questions and ,exercises4 #a4 ,if you place a saucer full of water outside on a hot day in the morning1 and go back to it in the evening1 you will find the saucer dry4 ,where has the water gone8 #b4 ,fill a tin can with a mixture of salt and snow 7or chopped ice74 ,place it in a warm room4 ,frost comes on the outside of the tin4 ,place a glass jug of water in the same room4 ,dew is formed on the outside of the jug4 ,can you explain this8 #c4 ,let the steam puff of the kettle strike against a cold sheet of glass or metal1 or a slab of stone4 ,what is formed8 ,footnotes #a,see ,lesson ,i41 ,book ,,iv4 #b,see lesson 8,the ,fire-,balloon40 ,,printed ,,in ,,great ,,britain ,,at ,,the ,,press ,,of ,,the ,,publishers4 ,transcriber's ,notes --,retained publication information from the printed exemplar 7this e,book is in the public domain in the country of publication47 --,only in the text versions1 delimited italicized text with underscores4 --,silently corrected several typos4