(Tetrao ohscurus)] the spruce partridge (Tetrao canadensis), and 

 all other grouse and pheasants ; all the crested quails or par- 

 tridges of Western Texas and New Mexico ; the white prairie or 

 whooping crane (Grus americana) ; the courlan, water hen, or 

 crying bird of Florida (Aramus giganteus), all the snipes, sand- 

 pipers, plovers, curlews, ducks, geese, swans, gulls, and terns of 

 the interior, as well as the different flycatchers, sparrows, etc. 



The following details furnished by Dr. Brewer, are believed to 

 contain the most important instructions necessary for the prepa- 

 ration and preservation of oological collections : — 



INSTRUCTIONS FOR COLLECTING AND PRESERVING. 



The nests of birds are to be sought for in all localities and in 

 various months of the year according to the latitude. May and 

 June being generally the most productive. Many of the rapa- 

 cious birds, however, begin to lay much earlier in the middle 

 States, even in February and March. This is especially the 

 case with the bald eagle, great-horned owls, etc. Others again 

 will be found breeding in July and August. 



When a nest containing eggs, or one newly constructed, is 

 discovered, it should not be disturbed, if possible, before the 

 parents have been observed hovering around or near, and thus 

 identified. If the species cannot be otherwise positively deter- 

 mined, and generally in any case, a parent bird should be secured, 

 and either the whole skin be prepared, or a portion — as the head 

 and wing — preserved for identification. The bird may also be 

 thrown into alcohol, and thus easily kept. 



The services of boys and other persons on farms, plantations, 

 &c., may be called to great advantage into requisition in col- 

 lecting eggs. Whenever they have found a nest, however, it 

 should not be disturbed before information is communicated to, 

 and the spot visited by some one competent to determine the 

 species, unless the parents can be taken with the nest. No 

 pains should be considered too great to secure the certain iden- 

 tification of each set of eggs. Horse-hair snares arranged 

 about a nest will often secure the parent bird. If identification 

 be impossible, however, the eggs should still be preserved, as 

 the species can usually be approximated to, if not absolutely 

 determined, by an expert oologist. 



