llt'W l.i I'lNH HIUDS. 11 



Afti-r tin- slight preparation you may take to the field with a much 

 clearer understanding of tin- situation. Two quite different ways of 

 identifying bml> arc o|n-n to \mi. Hither \..u may shoot them, <>r 

 study i In-ill through a tirlil- or |>era-glass, A " binl in the har . 

 ilrtinitf object whoso structure ami color can U- studied to Mich ad- 

 vantage that in most cases you will afterward recognize it at sight. 

 After learning tin- mini. -.- "f its parts its identity i- simply a question 

 uf keys and descriptions. 



If you would "name the liinls without a gun," by all means first 

 visit a museum, and, with tr\t-l/<>"k in hand, study those species which 

 you have previously found arc to bo looked for near \oiir home. This 

 preliminary introduction will serve to rii>en your acquaintance in the 

 field. A g'KMl field- or opera-glass is ahsoluti-ly indisjieiisable. A 

 xtronjj opera-glass with a large eye-piece is most u-eful m the woods, 

 while a field-glass is more serviceable in ol.-i rving watvr-binls. Study 

 your bird as closely as circumstances will permit, and write on the spot 

 a comparative description of its size, the shape of its bill, tail, etc., and 

 a detailed description of its colors. In describing form take a Kobin, 

 Chipping S|>arrow, or any bird you know, which U-st serves the pur- 

 pose, as a basis for comparison. A bird's bill is generally its most 

 diagnostic external character. A sketch of it in your note-book will 

 frequently -jive you a good clew to its owner's family. It is of the 

 utmost importance that this description should U> written in the field. 

 Not only do our memories sometimes deceive us. but we really see 

 nothing with exactness until we attempt to descriU- it. Haunt-, ac- 

 tioii-. ami notes should also lx> carefully recorded. This act-omit is 

 your bird in the hand," and while you can not hojn- to identify it as 

 easily as you could a s|>ccimen, you will rarely fail to learn its name, 

 and experience will render each attempt less difficult than the pre- 

 ceding. 



///;(/ to Find Hinla. The best times of the day in which to look 

 for birds are early morning and late afternoon. After a night of 

 fasting ami re-ting, bird- are active and hungry. When their appe- 

 -fn-d they n -t quietly until afternoon, hunger again send- 

 ing them forth in search of food. 



Clmptenioi>OOjrrapliii-nl I>istribution and Migration, prppami under eh Wr*o- 

 ti..n -f the Delaware Valley Ornithological riu>>. l>y Winner Stone. Oomenrator 

 OriiitJiolojflcal Section Aca.l.-my of Natural Srienrwt of Itilladelphi*. 9*0, pp. 

 186, two diagrams, two map, M8 upecieft. Price, f 1. 



I Aiin-.tni.-l List ,.f tl..- Binln known to oc-ur within Fifty MIIr of NPW 

 York City, by Frank M. Chapman. Published by the American Muaeum of Natu- 

 ral Id v.irk city, a* a guide to It* collection of local blrda. 8ro. pp. 

 100, 36 cute, 4 full page platea, 348 specks. For sale at the Museum. Price, IS 

 cenU. 



