LABELLING. 47 



or other expedition (if any), during which the specimen was 

 collected. 2. Name of the person in charge of the same (and 

 it may be remarked, that the less he really cares about birds, 

 and the less he actually interests himself to procure them, the 

 more particular he will be about this). 3. Title of the insti- 

 tution or association (if any) under the auspices or patronage 

 of which the specimen was procured, or for which it is de- 

 signed. 4. Name of collector; partly to give credit where it 

 is due, but principally to fix responsibility, and authenticate 

 the rest of the items. 5. Collector's number, referring to his 

 note-book, as just explained ; if the specimen afterwards forms 

 part of a general collection it usually acquires another num- 

 ber by new registry ; the collector's then becoming the "origi- 

 nal," as distinguished from the "current," number. 6. Local- 



ig 



ity, perhaps the most important of all the items. A specimen 

 of unknown or even uncertain origin is worthless or nearty so ; 

 while lamentable confusion has only too often arisen in orni- 

 thological writings from vague or erroneous indications of 

 locality : I should say that a specimen "not authentic" in this 

 particular had better have its supposed origin erased and be let 

 alone. Nor will it do to say simply, for instance, "North 

 America" or even "United States." Ornithologists generally 

 know already the quarter of the globe from which a bird comes ; 

 the locality should be fixed down to the very spot. If this be 

 obscure add the name of the nearest place to be found on a 

 fairly good map, giving distance and direction. 7. Date of 

 collection day of the month, and year. Among other reasons 

 for this may be mentioned the fact that it is often important 

 to know what season a particular plumage indicates. 8. Sex, 

 and if possible also age, of the specimen ; an item that be- 

 speaks its own importance. Ornithologists of all countries are 

 agreed upon certain signs to indicate sex. These are < for 

 male, 9 for female; the symbols respectively of Mars and 

 Venus. Immaturity is often denoted by the sign ; thus, $ , 

 young male. Or, we may write 9 ad., 9 yg., for adult 

 female, young female, respectively. It is preferable, however, 

 to use the language of science, not our vernacular, and say $ 



