54 PRACTICAL TAXIDERMY. 



able him to take many nocturnal animals that seldom 

 venture out during the day. In making a large collec- 

 tion the zoologist will have to visit many localities. 



On the low lands of the West he will find mice, shrews, 

 gophers, prairie-dogs, badgers, foxes, skunks, etc.; in 

 the wood lands, white-tailed deer, bears, panthers, wol- 

 verenes, hares, rabbits, beavers, raccoons, and other ani- 

 mals. In the timber on the higher mountains, the mar- 

 ten, lynx, wild-cat, mule-deer, mountain-rat, squirrels, 

 and weasels abound, while in the beautiful green pastures 

 above the timber line, twelve thousand feet above the sea, 

 black-tailed deer, mountain-sheep, and hares are found. 

 Still higher, in the rocky alpine peaks, the loud, sharp, 

 startling whistle of the marmot, and the faint squeak of 

 the little chief hare are heard. 



For collecting everything, except the larger animals, a 

 breech-loading shot-gun is the best, and cartridges should 

 be loaded with various sizes of shot, so that the gun can 

 be quickly and properly brought into play for any game 

 sighted. For shooting long distances, a few of Eley's 

 wire cartridges should be put into shells, with heavy 

 charges of powder. The cartridges should be numbered 

 on the wads, so that their contents can be determined at 

 a glance. A set with different sizes of shot should be 

 carried, and a cartridge vest is the most convenient for 

 holding them. 



For general use nickel-plated metallic shells are best, 

 particularly when shooting in damp weather. 



When camping, and transportation is limited, loose 

 ammunition can be carried in small space, and metal shells 

 loaded when required. This often obviates the carrying 

 of a large quantity of paper shells or loaded cartridges. 



When hunting animals, one should be prepared for any- 

 thing, from a deer down to a mouse, as he never knows 

 what a day may bring forth. With the exercise of due 

 care and forethought, one may have quite a collection 



