354 THE STUDY OF BIRDS IN THE FIELD 



directions are here repeated more minutely, with an illustrative 

 example showing the plan of procedure. 



Note first the great divisions of birds into groups as given 

 on page 356. You have to decide, mainly by the size of your 

 bird, which Key contains it. Turn to this Key, read all the 

 statements beginning with stars (*), and choose the one which 

 best describes the bird you are investigating; at the end of 

 the one chosen there is a letter in parenthesis (or possibly the 

 name of a bird and the page where it is described). Tlie letter 

 directs you to the statements under the same letter somewhere 

 below, and from among these statements you must choose the 

 one that best describes the bird you are observing. In order 

 to decide, you must carefully read all the statements. At the 

 end of the chosen one you will find another letter in paren- 

 thesis. Turn to the place where this is used and continue as 

 before. Never refer to cnn/ letters or read any statements 

 except those to ichich you are directed by the letter in paren- 

 thesis. At some stage in your progress you will find, instead 

 of a letter in parenthesis, the name of a bird and the page 

 where it is described. Turn to this page and carefully read the 

 description ; if there is an illustration, examine it and compare 

 it with the bird you are studying. 



The descriptions of all birds in this book were especially 

 written for use in the field, and just such markings as can 

 readily be seen at a short distance are emphasized. Great 

 pains have been taken to form descriptions in sentences so 

 connected that they can be readily remembered, and repeated 

 mentally. If the bird is seen against a bright sky, some allow- 

 ance must be made for colors. 



Suppose you are observing a bird with the following charac- 

 teristics : when at rest the head, back, and most of the wings 

 appear black. The spots on the wings and the base of the 

 tail are orange or flame color, and the belly white. Under 

 the Avings there is much flame color. It is somewhat smaller 

 than the English sparrow; hence you will find it by the aid 

 of the Key on page 356. (As it is sometimes nearly as large as 



