April, 1885.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



.'V( 



Hints to Collectors. 



The season for collecting is about opening, and 

 lliougU some of the more enthusiastic have been 

 rambling the woods for a couple of months past, 

 the large majority of collectors are just getting 

 really for the onslaught on the birds and eggs. 



As I'write, the snow lies over a foot deep in 

 llie streets, while it is over two feet deep in the 

 woods, and the mercury only indicated +4' this 

 morning. I know that many Great-horned Owls 

 are sitting, while a few broods may have hatched ; 

 but the migrants have not appeared in any num- 

 ber thus far. and we have ample time to consider 

 llie prospects of the coming season. 



It has occuri-ed to the writer during the past 

 lew years, to write out a few suggestions and send 

 lliein to the ''O. and O." regarding the collecting 

 of specimens. This idea suggested itself on our re- 

 calling to mind our early efforts, -and the at- 

 tendant failures of twenty years ago. A few sug- 

 gestions in season would have been invaluable to 

 us, and saved many specimens which became mu- 

 tilated wrecks and were thrown away. It is 

 hoped that the following hints will be of some 

 service to many readers of the "O.andO." who are 

 nrdent collectors, but with limited experience. 

 \Ve I rust that the writer's continual reference to 

 liimself will not appear improper, as it is only of 

 one's own experience of which one can speak 

 with certainty, and then from necessity we ap- 

 jiear pedantic. 



Outfit koiv .v Day's Trh> — Gun. A light, 

 double-barrelled shot-gun of 16 to 20 guagc is best 

 for general collecting. It should weigh from (ji 

 to 7i pounds. The barrels should be from 34 to 

 ;iO inches in length. The gun with which I have 

 done the most of my collecting, is an old fashioned 

 muzzle-loading stub and twist, bore 10, length of 

 barrels 24 inches, weight 6?^ pounds. Originally 

 the barrels were 33 inches in length, but I find 

 that the gun gives about as good a pattern with 

 the y inches cut off, and it is infinitely easier to 

 carry. A small gun is vastly superior to a great 

 heavy 10 bore in general collecting. A 13 gauge 

 breech-loader, weight 8J.,' pounds, with which I 

 have killed game during the past three years, is 

 excellent for genei'al hunting but does not com- 

 pare with the muzz.le loader for short range work. 

 Collectors should remember that the choice of a 

 gun is one of the principle points for a season's 

 work. Don'l buy a high priced gun, but one 

 which will do good execution Do not buy a 

 cane' gun or one with a skeleton stock. They are 

 a delusion and a snare. A suitable breech-loading 

 gun with accoutrements can be bought for $"2.5. 

 Knife. Get a good two-bladed jack-knife, with 



one blade four inches long, and the other an inch 

 or more shorter. Get a strong knife which will 

 wear well and do good work , 



Colkdiny Btj.r. Anything will do provided 

 it is light and conveniently arranged. My bo.\ is 

 of heavy tin, 14 inches long, 1^., inches wide, and 

 5'o inches deep. It is double, folding in the mid- 

 dle, and is carried in the hand by two wire handles, 

 or can be carried at the belt readily. It weighs 

 three pounds. It is large enough to carry a big 

 luncheon, my drills, scalpels, scissors, arsenic &.Q., 

 and 40 loaded shells. On the return at night, I 

 have carried as many as 20 small birds in it, be- 

 sides a dozen sets of eggs, and I once cairied 107 

 eggs in it, the result of one day's collecting. It 

 has two large sections, and four smaller ccmpart- 

 ments for eggs. A trout basket is easy to carry 

 on a trip, but the specimens are very liable to be 

 injured by the shaking up they get. The collect- 

 ing box with separate compartments is the best. It 

 is bulky and often inconvenient to carry, but the 

 specimens are well preserved, and this is themain 

 point in collecting. Anything which isworthdo- 

 ing is worth doing well, and we must not expect 

 to do a good day's collecting without some draw- 

 backs. If we secure a dozen birds in good feather 

 and a few sets of eggs all nicely blown, it is a 

 great deal better than 80 to 40 missed birds and a 

 lot of eggs mixed together without proper labeling 

 and the majority cracked and ruined. A good 

 collecting box can be made for two dollars and 

 will last for twenty years. 



DvilU (111(1 Blfwpqies. Four drills are eninigh 

 for a collector. One small and very Hue di ill for 

 small and delicate eggs; one atiifle larger and 

 coarser in its burr; one about I4 inch in diame- 

 ter for general work; and one large — quite 1,,' inch 

 in diameter, for the larger eggs. If I were to se- 

 lect only two drills, I would take the largest and 

 smallest, for with care all the work may be done 

 with them. Glass blowpipes are best. They are 

 cheap and if lost are easily replaced. Take aglass 

 tube l(j inches in length, cost 10 cents, and with a 

 diamond cut it into four equal lengths. Hold (me 

 in an alcohol flame and blow in it with one of the 

 other pieces. When it is softened, bend the top 

 around to one side with an old pair of tweezers 

 and draw the point out to the desired fineness. 

 Tlie four may vary to suit the collector, the holes 

 or apertures being large or small as required. 



Climbers. My advice is "leave them at home," 

 sell them to some other boy. Climbers are good 

 in case of repairs on a telegraph line, and little 

 danger is incurred by men used to them in that 

 business, but when it comes to climbing large 

 trees with rough bark, please excuse me. I want 



