BIRDS OI 1 



all the excitement, and requires all the skill of other shooting with a 

 much higher degree of theoretical information, and consequent 

 gratification in its exercise. Personal activity, (not necessarily to be 

 exerted over so great a space as in game bird shooting, but in a 

 much greater diversity of locality), coolness, steadiness of hand? 

 quickness of eye and of ear especially the latter ; in fact all the 

 accomplishments of a first rate shot will be of service, and some of 

 them are indispensable to successful collecting. The main reliance, 

 however, is on the ear for the detection of birds by their notes, and 

 involves a knowledge the more accurate and discriminating the 

 better, which can only be acquired by experience, and always 

 characterizes the true woodsman, whether naturalist or hunter. 



' This ability is of incomparable value to the collector, whether 

 in the tangled forest, the deep recesses of the swamp, on the sea- 

 coast, or in the clear woodlands, on mountain or prairie ; it advises 

 him of whatever birds may be there, and affords him a higher grati- 

 fication, announcing the presence of a bird he does not know. We 

 know no more exquisite pleasure than to hear in the woods the note 

 of a bird which is new to us. It is in the latter case that the culti- 

 vated quickness of the eye of the experienced collector is especially 

 important, and his coolness and steadiness of nerve is fully tested. 

 It will not do to be flustered. But in fact, all these qualities must 

 be possessed for the acquirement of the smaller species of birds 

 found in our woods. Some species, especially the Warblers, are 

 constantly in motion in the pursuit of insects, and are most frequently 

 met with in the tops of trees ; they are, morever, only to be killed 

 with the finest shot, or they are spoiled for specimens. The 

 obtaining of these little birds always requires the most careful and 

 skilful shooting, 



With us the Warblers arrive with remarkable regularity about the 

 10th of May. Should the season be a lata one, they may be observed 

 at this time gleaning their scanty fare among the almost leafless 

 branches, ; or again, if early, the leaves may be opening out by the 

 first of the month, yet the little birds do not appear till their regular 

 time. As the first flocks arrive they rest and recruit for a day or 

 two, and then pass on to make room for others who arrive and take 

 their places. So the stream flows on until the Queen's Birthday, 

 (May 24). About this time the Black Poll arrives, and when it goes 



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