Pat he») ae 
HINTS TO ORNITHOLOGISTS. 287 
of the insect. To prevent this effectually, Mr. 
Kyan’s process must absolutely be adopted; and it 
must also be adopted to secure wood from what is 
called dry rot, in places where a free circulation of 
air cannot be introduced. I consider Mr. Kyan’s 
process perfectly unexceptionable. The long ar- 
rows which the Indians use in Guiana are very 
subject to be eaten by the worm. In 1812, I ap- 
plied the solution of corrosive sublimate to a large 
quantity of these arrows. At this hour they are 
perfectly sound, and show no appearance that the 
worm has ever tried to feed upon them. 
I have penned down these transient remarks by 
way of preface to others, which I may possibly 
write, at some future time, on decay in living 
trees. 
HINTS TO ORNITHOLOGISTS. 
Most men have some favourite pursuit — some 
well-trained hobby, which they have ridden from 
the days of their youth. Mine is ornithology; and 
when the vexations of the world have broken in 
upon me, I mount it, and go away for an hour or 
two, amongst the birds of the valley ; and I seldom 
fail to return with better feelings than when I first 
set out. He who has made it his study to become 
acquainted with the habits of the feathered tribes, 
will be able to understand their various movements 
almost as well as though they had actually related 
their own adventures to him. 
