Birds. 109 



Now, a word to those persons who may contemplate entering 

 upon the study of birds and the formation of a systematic collec- 

 tion; — -and let me say that my remarks this evening, are largely in 

 answer to numerous inquiries received from just such persons. 



In the beginning the student should have a definite idea as to 

 the extent of country his collection is to represent — whether 

 a locality, a state or a continent. 



He may begin his collecting and identification of specimens 

 personally, if he so desires, and this will give him a more accurate 

 and thorough knowledge in the end perhaps. Should he desire to 

 expedite matters, however, he may purchase from a dealer a few 

 representative skins, and using these as a working basis, develop 

 his knowledge of structure more rapidly. Let him bear in mind 

 however that it is not rarity he desires in these working specimens, 

 but rather the common types of the section of country he desires 

 to work up. Having obtained an elementry knowledge of struc- 

 ture and classification, he will be prepared to take up the more 

 advanced problems connected with bird-life. 



To the question then, what constitutes the science of ornith- 

 ology, I would answer: — The knowledge, systematically arranged, 

 of facts pertaining to birds. 



1. Of their structure. 



2. Of their structural relations to other animals. 



3. Of their physiology or life histories — as food, habits, voice, 



nests and eggs, etc. 



4. Of their distribution, topographical, geographical and 



chronological. 



5. Of their economic relations to man and other animals. 



The means of acquiring this knowledge are : 



1. A good shot-gun and suitable ammunition. 



2. A note-book for field use. 



3. Instruments for dissecting and skinning birds. 



4. Some dry powdered arsenic for preserving skins. 



5. A catalogue or permanent record book. 



6. A cabinet or boxes for specimens. 



7. One of the standard text books on Ornithology, as Coues' 

 "Key to North American Birds" or Ridgway's "Manual of North 

 American Birds." 



