Our Common Birds and How to Know Them 
But if the would-be observer looks forward to what may be called professional 
work, and intends to make an exhaustive study of ornithology, he must kill birds 
and learn to skin and preserve them; and for this purpose he must have a gun 
and a set of taxidermist’s instruments. Dr. Coues, in his Key, gives full directions 
regarding the use of these, together with ample instruction in the formation and care 
of a collection. In the present little woik this branch of the subject will not be 
discussed, and only such familiarity with birds will be sought for as may be attained 
by observation alone and through the instrumentality of no weapon more deadly than 
the opera-glass. 
Armed, therefore, with opera-glass and note-book, start out in the early morning 
or towards sunset. It is at these times during the summer season, that birds are active. 
In the heat of the day, no observations can be made of sufficient importance to repay 
the personal discomfort and even risk which exercise at such a time involves. The few 
hours immediately succeeding day-break are best of all, but for obvious reasons a some- 
what later period will be chosen by most people, and indeed there is enough occurring 
for quite a large portion of the morning to repay the watcher. After all, the occupation 
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