Handbook of Nature-Study · Lesson IV · Topic 1: Bird study: how a bird is made
4. Eyes and ears of birds
Goal: Your child can describe a hen's eye (pupil, iris, film lid) and find where her ears are.
You'll need
- A hen or rooster to watch closely
- Binoculars (optional)
- Nature notebook and colored pencils
What's in the book
The leading thought, the method (watch the hen and rooster in the yard or schoolroom) and six questions about how the hen looks at you, the colors of her eye, her eyelids and film lid, and where her ears are.
The lesson, step by step
When and where
Any season, wherever you can stand close to a calm hen or rooster. Hens are often quiet and still when they rest or sit in the sun.
Safety: chickens and ducks can carry germs even when they look clean and healthy. Wash hands with soap and water after touching a bird, a feather or anything in the coop, and keep hands away from faces until then.
Keep the big idea in mind
Read this to yourself:
The eyes and ears of birds are peculiar and very efficient.
How does she look at you?
Stand still near the hen and watch her head.
Why does the hen turn her head first this side and that as she looks at you? Can she see an object with both eyes at once? Can she see well?
Try it: close one eye, then the other, while looking at a toy. A hen's eyes are on the sides of her head, so each eye sees a different picture.
The colors of the eye
How many colors are there in a hen's eye? Describe the pupil and the iris.
The pupil is the black hole in the middle; the iris is the colored ring around it.
Eyelids and the film lid
Does the hen wink as we do? Has she any eyelids?
Can you see the film lid? Does it come from above or below or the inner or outer corner? When do you see this film lid?
A drowsy hen is the best place to see the thin film lid slide across her eye. Look in the mirror at the little pink fold in the inner corner of your own eye; Comstock says it is what is left of our film lid.
Find the ears
Where are the hen's ears? How do they look? How can you tell where the rooster's ears are?
Do you think the hen can see and hear well?
Look just behind and below the eye. Many hens and roosters have a bare patch of skin, the ear lobe, there.
Put it into words
Ask your child to tell you three things about a hen's eyes and ears. Then share the leading thought.
Nature notebook
Draw a large hen's eye in color, with the black pupil and the colored iris. Mark where the film lid comes from. Add the ear lobe if you saw one.
Afterwards
Notice how other birds look at things this week: does a robin tip its head to one side?
Tip
Comstock's teacher's story says a hawk high in the air can see a mouse on the ground. Children love to test how far away they can see a small toy.