BULLETIN 39, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. [6] 



In gathering- specimens, it is very important to fix with the utmost 

 precision the localities where found, as well as the dates of capture. It 

 has too often happened that collectors in little known regions have 

 neglected or ignored this very essential matter, and thus their work has 

 practically been in vain, for specimens with imperfect data as to place 

 and time of capture are comparatively valueless. To give an illustra- 

 tion : All large collections contain a great many specimens, labeled 

 simply " Brazil," or " Mexico," or with the name of some other equally 

 extensive country, ^ow, Brazil, while i)olitically one country, is 

 zoologically a portion of several very distinct provinces, whose bird-life 

 is far more distinct, one from the other, than is that of North America 

 from that of Europe, or that of tbe latter from the bird-life of northern 

 and central Asia or northern Africa ! Were all the specimens in cob 

 lections labeled accurately as to precise locality and date, the problems 

 of geographical distribution and variation and their attendant phenom- 

 ena would be far better understood than they are at tbe present time, 

 and human knowledge proportionately advanced. 



Where collections can not be made in any region, it will be very 

 desirable to procure lists of all the known species, giving the names by 

 which they are generally recognized, as well as the scientific name, 

 when this is practicable. The common local names of specimens pro- 

 cured should also be carefully recorded. 



All facts relating to the habits and characteristics of the various 

 species, however trivial and commonplace they may seem, should be 

 carefully recorded in the note book, especially those having relation to 

 the peculiarities of the season of reproduction, etc. The accounts of 

 hunters and others should also be collected, since much valuable informa- 

 tion may thus be secured. The colors of the unfeathered j)arts when 

 the bird is alive, or soon after being killed, should always be given, 

 when practicable, or, still better, painted on a rough sketch of the 

 object. 



As a general rule, birds of brilliant plumage, or those which are in 

 any way very conspicuous, are much less likely to prove interesting 

 scientifically than those of dull or ordinary plumage. Most of the col- 

 lecting which has been done in tropical countries has been for com- 

 mercial purposes, there being at least 100,000 bird-skins sold to milliners 

 to 1,000 that are sold to museums or collectors, and brightly colored 

 birds being therefore most salable are naturally those preferred. 

 Even the collector who has cljiefly in view the scientific results of his 

 work must be strongly tempted to give preference to the humming- 

 birds, trogons, tanagers, and other birds of "gorgeous plume," so 

 strongly do they appeal to his sense of the beautiful. Thus, on the one 

 hand, the wrens, ant-birds, sparrows, and others of modest attire are 

 purposely ignored, while on the other they are half unconsciously 

 neglected. 



