How TO STUDY HIM 139 
thick, like a canary’s or spar- 
row’s, the bird is a_ seed- 
eater; if long and straight, 
like a robin’s, he is an in- 
sect-eater; if sharp and flat, 
opening very wide like a 
swallow’s, he is a flycatcher. 
Lastly, the plumage, the 
general color, then the spe- 
cial markings, such as_ bars 
on wings or tail, a ring 
around the eye (Fig. 18), or 
a line over or through the 
eye (Fig. 19), white or black 
throat, (Hic. 20. or 19); 
speckled or striped breast 
(Fig. 18), or any conspicu- 
ous blotch. Every point 
must be set down the mo- 
ment you notice it. You 
cannot trust your memory. 
With these full notes, re- 
turn to your study and take 
your manual to find out his 
name, or to identify. 
Many persons think that 

Fig. 19. 
Black-throated Green 
Warbler. 

Fig. 20. 
White-throated Sparrow. 
in order to know a bird, and especially to find 
out his name, one must have him in the hand, 
