[a] 



DIRECTIONS FOE COLLECTING BIRDS RIDGWAY. 



well;* and it would perhaps be advisable to have a few extra large 

 shot, such as No. 1 or BB, though the occasions where they are actually 

 required would probably not be frequent. In countries where large 

 mammals of a daugerous nature are apt to be met with, it would not be 

 unwise for the collector to carry constantly with him two or three car- 

 tridges charged with powder and a conical ball that will pass easily 

 through the barrel, which may be quickly substituted for a charge 

 of shot in an emergency.t Or what will answer equally well, paper 

 shells loaded with a full charge of shot may be cut iu two (not quite 

 severed, however) between the two wads separating tbe powder from 

 the shot, which will cause the latter to carry " solid," and prove 

 effective as a ball any distance up to seventy-five yards, or more. 



(thinning tools and materiah. — The fewer nnplements one has the bet- 

 ter, few things being a greater hindrance to quick work than complicated 

 apparatus. Some very skillful collectors use nothing but a pocket knife 

 or a pair of short bladed, sharp-j)ointed scissors in skinning a bird; but 

 such simplicity is hardly to be recommended to the novice, who will 

 find the following tools essential (Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, G, 7, 8) : (1) A sharp 



Fig. 2.— Scalpel. 



scalpel or dissecting knife; (2) a pair of scissors with sharp-pointed 

 and rather short blades, either straight or curved, as may be preferred ; 



Fig. 3.— Scalpel. 



(3) a pair of heavy cutting forceps, known as " bone-cutters," to be used 

 for breaking the leg- and wing-bones of large birds; (4) a pair of small 



Fig. 4.— straight-pointed scissors. 



spring forceps, with rather narrow points, for adjusting the feathers, and 



*If a 20-gauge gun is used, Nos. Vi, 8, G, and 4 are probably the best sizes. 



tif the cylinder-bored barrel is fitted with au auxiliary barrel, as has been previ- 

 ously vecoramended, aud the other barrel is choke-bored, care must be takeu to select 

 a ball that will jjaas easily through the " choke"; otherwise an accident may occur. 



