EQUIPMENT OF THE FIELD STUDENT 9 



names to have an undue significance. A species is not an entity or 

 distinct creation, but merely one link in the chain of bird-life, which, 

 because of the loss of the adjoining link or links, appears to stand by 

 itself. Nor should he allow himself to think of a subspecies as materially 

 different from the species which it represents, simply because it has 

 received a distinctive name. Nomenclature gives undue emphasis 

 to differences, whereas, it is equally important to emphasize resem- 

 blances. 



THE EQUIPMENT OF THE FIELD STUDENT 



The Glass 



Note-books and Journals 

 The Observation Blind 

 Photographic Outfit 

 Collector's Outfit 



Glass. A good field-glass is necessary, not alone as an aid in identify- 

 ing birds, but in observing their actions. When one is working in fields 

 and woods where the birds are comparatively near, a low-power glass 

 with good illumination can be used more quickly and to better advantage 

 than the higher-power glasses which require more frequent adjustment 

 of focus, with consequent loss of time. But on the shore, or over the 

 water, where birds are seen at great distances and where there is an 

 abundance of light, the high-power glasses are much more serviceable. 

 There is, however, a limit to the magnification which can be used 

 effectively; the 8-power prism binocular of any one of half-a-dozen 

 makes proving, in practice, to be best adapted to the bird student's 

 needs. Beyond this power, the increased precision required in focussing, 

 and the need for greater steadiness when in use, do not compensate 

 one for the larger size of the image it is possible to obtain. For a low- 

 power glass I know of none better than the Lemaire pocket field-glass, 

 which has a magnification of about four diameters. 



Note-Books and Journals. The necessity for a well-kept journal 

 and full field-notes cannot be too strongly urged. Specimens may be 

 duplicated, but no one can ever see with your eyes. Do not trust your 

 memory a willing servant too frequently imposed on. It may receive 

 and retain one impression clearly, but as others are added the earlier 

 ones lose their distinctness or become entirely effaced. 



The system adopted for recording notes should be simple to keep 

 and easy of reference. In the field, I use a pocket note-book arranged 

 to hold perforated leaves. In such a book one enters descriptions of 

 birds' appearance and of their calls and song, and other memoranda 

 which it is desired to commit at once to writing. No leaf should contain 

 notes relating to more than one species, and the leaves, properly headed, 

 may then be filed for reference, either alphabetically, or according to 

 the classification of the American Ornithologists' Union. 



