6 Suggestions for Study 



tint, or are they mottled ? Color of under parts ? 

 Wings ? Tail ? Are there white wing-bars ? If so, 

 are there one or two ? Are there white markings 

 on the tail ? What are the shape and color of the 

 beak ? Have either wings or tail a peculiar shape ? 



These points, numerous though they seem at 

 first, will soon be noted almost unconsciously, and 

 by means of . them one can learn from the key the 

 name of the bird, and then can get hints for further 

 study from the brief notes in Part II. 



That we may be quite sure how to use the key, 

 let us trace out together a single specimen. Notice 

 yonder fine fellow, nearly as large as a robin, en- 

 tirely black save for a red yellow-edged patch on 

 either shoulder like an epaulet. We turn to our 

 key to discover his name. What colors are con- 

 spicuous ? Obviously both red and black, and we 

 shall find that it makes no difference which of the 

 two we select. Let us choose red. We are directed 

 to go to i. Here we are met by two alternatives : 

 is the body largely red. or is the red present only 

 in small patches? We choose the second, and are 

 directed to 5. Here we are met by five alternatives, 

 and choose the fourth : red patch on the shoulder. 

 This choice gives us the name of our bird, and re- 

 fers us to the fuller description to be found in the 

 second part. Had we selected black instead of red, 



