SEC. I IMPLEMENTS FOR COLLECTING, AND THEIR USE 9 



very well ; but a light basket, fitting the body, such as the creel 

 used by anglers, is the best thing to carry specimens in. Avoid 

 putting specimens into pockets, unless you have your coat-tail largely 

 excavated ; crowding them into a close pocket, where they press 

 each other, and receive warmth from the person, Avill injure them. 

 It is always well to take a little raw cotton into the field, to plug 

 up shot-holes, mouth, nostrils, or vent, immediately if required. 

 (cl) For yourself. The indications to be fulfilled in your clothing 

 are these : Adaptability to the weather ; and since a shooting-coat 

 is not conveniently changed, while an overcoat is ordinarily ineli- 

 gible, the requirement is best met by different underclothes. Easy 

 fit, allowing perfect freedom of muscular action, especially of the 

 arms. Strength of fabric, to resist briers and stand wear ; velveteen 

 and corduroy are excellent materials. Subdued colour, to render 

 you as inconspicuous as possible, and to show dirt the least. Multi- 

 plicity of pockets — a perfect shooting-coat is an ingenious system of 

 hanging pouches about the person. Broad-soled, low-heeled boots 

 or shoes, giving a firm tread even when wet. Close-fitting cap with 

 prominent visor, or low soft felt hat, rather broad-brimmed. Let 

 india-rubl^er goods alone ; the field is no place for a sweat-bath. 



Qualifications for Success. — With the outfit just indicated 

 you command all the required appliances that you can buy, and the 

 rest lies with yourself. Success hangs upon your, own exertions ; 

 upon your energy, industry, and perseverance ; your knowledge 

 and skill ; your zeal and enthusiasm, in collecting birds, much as 

 in other affairs of life. But that your efforts — maiden attempts 

 they must once have been if they be not such now — may be directed 

 to best advantage, further instructions may not be unacceptable. 



To Carry a Gun without peril to human life or limb is the 

 ft 5 c of its use, "There's death in the pot." Such constant cai^e 

 is required to avoid accidents that no man can give it by continual 

 voluntary or conscious effort : safe carriage of the gun must become 

 an unconscious habit, fixed as the movements of an automaton. 

 The golden rule and whole secret is : the muzzle must never sweep the 

 horizon ; accidental discharge should send the shot into the ground 

 before your feet, or away up in the air. There are several safe and 

 easy ways of holding a piece ; they will be employed by turns to 

 relieve particular muscles when fatigued. 1. Hold it in the hollow 

 of the arm (preferably the left, as you can recover to aim in less 

 time than from the right), across the front of your person, the hand 

 on the grip, the muzzle elevated about 45°. 2. Hang it by the 

 trigger-guard hitched over the forearm brought round to the bi'east, 

 the stock passing behind the upper arm, the muzzle pointing to the 

 ground a pace or so in front of you. 3. Shoulder it, the hand on 

 the grip or heel-plate, the muzzle pointing upward at least 45°. 4. 



