April 1891.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



53 



purplish-gray and burnt umber. In addition 

 to forming wreaths at the Uirger ends tlie 

 markings are more or less scattered over the 

 entire surface: .(31x.45; .0lx.4li; .58x.4r); 

 .57X.44. 



Set VII. .Tune 2.5, ISS.i. Oxford County, 

 Maine. Nest in an evergreen, seven feet from 

 tlie ground. Four eggs, incubation slight. 

 White, with a faint bluish tinge, spotted with 

 bui-nt umber and purplish-gray: .OOx..!!; 

 .(i8x..')0; .70X..51; .68x.50. 



Set VIII. May SI, 1889. Franklin County, 

 Maine. Nest in hemlock tree, twenty feet 

 from the ground. Four eggs, fresh. White, 

 thickly speckled with purplish-gray and russet. 

 The markings are all over the surface, but 

 heavier at the larger ends: .07x.4'J; .68x.41); 

 .07X.49; .67X.48. 



Set IX. .Tune 14, 188.".. Grand Mnnan, N. B. 

 Nest in white birch, six feet from the ground. 

 Four eggs. White, spotted with purplish- 

 gray and burnt umber: .():?x..")0; .(it)x..">l; 

 .04 x..')2; .64 x ..51. 



Set X. .Tune .5, 1800. Farmington, Maine. 

 Nest in small cedar, on small limb close to the 

 trunk of the tree, and tliirteen feet from the 

 ground. Four eggs, fresh. White, spotted 

 with purplish-gray and burnt umber: .68x.49; 

 .69X..50; .69X.50; .69x.49. 



Set XI. June 17, 1887. Grand Manan, N. B. 

 Nest in spruce tree tliree feet from ground. 

 Four eggs, incubation commenced. White, 

 speckled with russet, purplish-gray and burnt 

 umber: .04x.49; .(i5x.49; .G5x.49: .68x.r)l. 



./. P. y. 



Hints for "Jur. "' Collectors. 



The collecting season will soon open; our 

 younger friends perhaps need some advice. So 

 many have written of what to do that I feel 

 that I should try something new, and mention 

 a few ornithological "don'ts." 



TO BEGIX WITU THE OUTFIT. 



• Don't cari'y your birds in pockets or game 

 bag but procure a roomy fish creel, and as 

 fast as your .specimens are procured place 

 them carefully away. 



Don't load too heavily, a single pellet will 

 often kill. 



IN THE FIELD. 



Don't try to cover too much ground, sit still 

 and let the birds come to you. You will be 

 more than repaid by the opportunities of 

 studying them when without fear. 



. Don't permit a wounded bird to escape 

 under any consideration if you can possibly 

 help it. 



Don't in the heat of collecting neglect your 

 note-book. It is as important as the speci- 

 mens. 



Don't, if the owner of your favorite collect- 

 ing ground comes after you, take to your heels. 

 If you do he will think something is up 

 and will never after listen to any explanation 

 on your part. Stay and talk it out. Often he 

 will have no objections if he fully understands 

 your work. [Don't forget this. — Ed.] 



X)o)i' t allow a rare bird to escape. Often 

 you think you will watch him just a minute 

 before shooting, when — presto! he has disap- 

 peared, and no amount of searching will re-dis- 

 cover him. Watch the second of the species 

 to your heart's content. 



Don't get mad and swear if you fall over a 

 log into a muddy pool of water, frightening 

 away the warbler you were watching. Nt>, get 

 up and brush off the mud calmly. Patience 

 is invaluable in a collector. 



Don't Wear rubber boots except in early 

 spring. 



Don't venture on the shores of a small lake 

 rashly. The outer crust being broken the 

 mud is often very deep. 



Don't collect a large series of any species. 

 You are not a professional and two or three of 

 each })linnaije will be plenty. 



Don' ton any account shoot more birds th.an 

 you can skin. Never waste even the common- 

 est bird. 



,\FTEH ItE.\C'UINf) IKHIE. 



Don't neglect to put your specimens iit 

 once into .a cool place. 



AT THE SKINNING TAni.E. 



Don't forget to measure the binl or to stuff its 

 mouth, or to extract broken eye balls. 



Don't use a cone in making the skin. 



Don't attempt to sever the legs until after 

 you have cut the tail and skinned part way 

 up the back. Break the bones soon after the 

 first incisicm is made, but do not try to cut the 

 meat, it only stretches the skin. 



Don't skin the legs or wings until the skin is 

 fully turned. They will then absorb more 

 arsenic, being fresh. 



X)on't cut the ears, pull them out with the 

 tweezers. 



Don't spare .arsenic. Put the inverted skin 

 in a small drawer and keep the poison around 

 it. Don't shake it off even, but turn tlie skin 

 back with a thick layer of powder adhering 

 to it. 



