88 THE OREGON xXATURALIST. 



EASTERN DEPARTMEN r. crow Init will say "What you can't shoot, trap.'' 



— ■ A small steel trap placed upon the top of a post 



CONDUCTED KY THE ASSOCIATE EDITOR. in those localities where crows or hawks are 



abundant, will generally be rewarded with 



CHAT. good results. The smallest steel trap which 



you can procure will give the best results as the 



Are you fully prepared for the collecting heavier and more powerful ones frequently 



season? What have you taken thus far? If breaks tiie leg bones. With the smaller traps, 



you have any thing out of the general "run uf which are strong enough for anything in the 



things" or have learned anything that you owl, hawk, or crow line, this is avoided, 



think will be of value to brother ornithologists, Now you frequently are at a loss to know 



write them up and send ^them on. Especially how to load your shells properly m order to do 



notes on migrations; first records, etc the best work. Don't put in too many shot. 



It diminishes the foice uf discharge and thus 



The Oologists Association wants your obser- detracts from your chances of killing. Every 



vations this year, whether you are a member unnecessary .sh(,t is one against \ou. For the 



or not. Write President I. S. Trostler, largest land bird I would never think of using 



Omaha, Nebraska., or the Eastern Editor, for over one and one half ounces of shot, with three 



full particulars. drachms of powder. For warblers and birds 



to the size of a robin I use about one half an 



Watch our marine articles this summer, „,,„„„ r >< i ,'' » i i . i 



' ounce ot "dust — no twelve shot — and one 



Some on methods, some on descriptions, habits. ^,.^^^,^,^ ^^ ^^^.^,g^._ Fo„„,,j,,„ j^;^ gradation, 



etc, but all inter esting. ^^^^^ ^,^„ ^^^ ^ ^^,^, f^-^. ,^^^,^ corresponding to 



the specimen you wish to take. Of course \o\\ 



The editor of this department will carefully 

 review any publication, monograph etc. mailed 

 him for that junjiose, and reviews of such may 

 be looked for in these coluains monthly. 



will often be compelled to shoot small shot at 

 big birds, but I do not believe you will ever be 

 compelled lo shoot big shot at small birds, if 

 you carry a proper supply of cartridges with 

 you. I remember an instance of this kind, 

 COLLECTORS DIFFICULTIES AND when I secured a most perfect specimen of 

 HOW TO OVERCOME TilEM. Bubo virsiniaMus with a charge ol "dust". 



I vvns sauntering along with my eyes on the 



BY MERGANSER. tree tops and listening to the angry "cawings'' 



of some crows in a neighboring field, when 



(Continued from Page 76.) looking up I saw ai a distance a good .sized 



You will find however that simply kee]iing specimen of Circus hudsonius flving low 

 quiet will not always bring the birds about you. over the fields. The crows soon saw him and 

 A very excellent device is to apply the made an angry rush at him, driving him with- 

 partially opened lijis to the back of the wrist in easy gun shot of where I stood. I discharg- 

 and simulate the act of kissing. This makes ed the right hand barrel — I always carry my 

 a sound very similar to that produced by a heavy charge in the right hand barrel — and 

 young i)ird in pain, or in the hands of a captor, missed him entirely. At the moment of press- 

 and will soon draw to you those birds which ing the trigger I was concious of a whirr of 

 are within hearing distance. "Tha' is all bioad wings, and, beating the underbrush in 

 right for small birds," I hear some one remark, frantic eflbrts lo disentangle himself, was a 

 "But how about large (>ne ? "Of course I cap large Great Horned Owl. No time to load 

 not give directions as to how you shall shoot a again. I took a step or two nearer, bringing 



