APPENDIX. 175 



of them, can be acquired by practice. Study well the 

 habits of each and every species which comes under 

 your eye. Note carefully song or motion, and learn to 

 even distinguish the various Sparrows and Warblers by 

 the chirp alone. Although this is somewhat difficult, 

 it can be done, for I know of several who do it. 

 No two species possess habits which are exactly alike 

 in every respect, and the nicer points of distinction 

 can be learned so that the flirt of a tail or the droop 

 of a wing will often betray a rare bird, even if it be sur- 

 rounded by hundreds of more common species which 

 are quite similar in appearance. 



This art may be carried to such perfection, that it 

 appears like something marvelous, to one who is not 

 skilled in it, to see how readily certain obscurely-col- 

 ored species may be detected, even at a long distance, 

 from among others having similar form and markings. 

 I have frequently known two experts, when collecting 

 in company, to shoot, both at one instant, at the same 

 bird the moment it appeared, although neither was 

 aware that the other saw it. By learning to distinguish 

 all species instantly, the ornithologist is spared the 

 trouble and pain of shooting birds which are too com- 

 mon to be of any value to him. 



In addition to the young, in all stages of plumage, 

 moulting birds should also be taken, as many valuable 

 facts can be learned by studying the various changes 

 undergone at this stage. 



More recent improvements in breach-loading guns, 

 now render them desirable ; in fact, a muzzle-loader is 

 scarcely to be thought of for a collector. I do not 

 here recommend any particular make, but will simply 

 state, that I am at present using a Parker gun, and 

 find that it works like a charm. In collecting little 

 birds, however, I use a gun of an exceedingly small 



