THE OOLOGIST'S EXCHANGE. 



(with supplement^) 



VOL. II. 



NEW YORK, DECEMBER, 1889. 



No. 9. 



A Few Notes on Ornithological Collecting. 



BY F. C. BAKE II. 



Having had some experience in col- 

 lecting birds, and having been troubled 

 at first to know what tools, implements, 

 etc., to get and liow to use tliem, it oc- 

 curred to me that some of my readers 

 might not be as fortunate, and I there- 

 fore give them the benefit of my exper- 

 ience and study upon the subject. 



1. The Gun.— For all around collect- 

 ing a good 12 bore double barrel breech 

 loading shot gun is by far the best. 



In choosing a gun, pick out one that 

 has the crook of the stock fitted to you, 

 that is, one which enables you to catch 

 the sight easily upon bringing it quick- 

 ly to your shoulder. The weight should 

 be about 7 to 8 pounds; not over eight. 

 A barrel measuring about 30 inches is 

 preferable. A breech-loader is by all 

 odds preferable to a muzzle-loader. I 

 have used both and decidedly prefer 

 the former. 



a. Paper Shells are superior to brass 

 ones, for they do not bulge, are not so 

 heavy and can be thrown away after 

 firing. An inflexible rule I would en- 

 force upon this subject is never use 

 brass cartridges; by observing this rule 

 you will save many a wrench to your 

 temper. The cost of loaded shells is 

 about $40 per thousand or about four 

 cents a piece. 



b. Loading Shells must be done care- 

 fully. Two wads should be placed 

 between powder and shot, and the last 

 wad (over the shot) should be glewn in. 

 Load three-fourths of your cartridges 

 with "mustard seed," two-thirds of the 

 rest with No. 7, and the balance with 

 No. 4. Mark the number of the shot on 

 the top wad, or better yet use the col- 

 ored paper shells as follows ; white for 

 "mustard seed"; red for No. 7; and 

 blue for No. 4; should you have a few 

 buck-shot (which by the way when 

 hunting for specimens in the South are 

 very handy) you may use a green shell. 

 Upon starting out on a trip take a 

 third more shells than you think you 

 will need. 



c. Other Weapons may be chosen, 

 such as a single-barrelled shot-gun, 

 cane-gun, or pistol-gun, all of which 



have their advantages ; but in the long 

 run the simple double-barrel will be 

 found by far the best. 



d. Ammunition.— In reloading use the 

 best powder combining strength and 

 cleanliness. Use the "mustard seed" 

 for the larger number of shells. Pro- 

 cure enough dust shot upon leaving the 

 city to last through your whole trip. 

 It can not be procured in country places. 

 Use good felt wads. Get the very best 

 primers (either " Winchester" or U. M. 

 C). 



e. Other Equipments. — A gun case 

 made of canvas is a necessary article, 

 and does not cost much ($1.25 to $2.00). 

 A box containing the following reload- 

 ing tools is indispensable: Puncher and 

 rammer, capper, block to set base of 

 cartridge in while decopping and ram- 

 ming, and a powder and shot measure. 

 Your ammunition may be carried in a 

 "belt," "vest" or loose in your pockets. 



/. For yourself, you will need a stout 

 hat, coat full of pockets, and a pair of 

 pantaloons made from canvas or cordu- 

 roy. A fishing basket is excellent to 

 carry specimens in. 



A few remarks upon the care of the 

 gun may not be out of place here ; nev- 

 er let the muzzle of your gun sweep the 

 horizon ; point it up in the air or down 

 at your feet. A Iwnys carry your gun at 

 half- code ; never let the muzzle of the 

 gun point toward your own person for 

 a single instant; never point it at an- 

 other person ; get your gun over fences 

 before you follow yourself ; never leave 

 a loaded gun in your house. The gun 

 may be cleaned by swabbing inside 

 with a rag and the judicious use of a 

 little porpoise oil ; an" old wad fastened 

 to the end of the ramrod is very useful 

 in starting dirt. Oil locks and iron 

 work thoroughly. 



Instruments. — These are few in num- 

 ber, consisting of scalpel, scissors, 

 spring forceps, long stutters and a few 

 needles and pins. For large birds a 

 much heavier pair of scissors and a pair 

 of bone snips will be desirable. A hone 

 and whet stone will also be necessary. 

 A rule divided in hundredths of an inch 

 is necessary. 



Materials for Stuffing.— For small 

 birds cotton is the best, and large ones 

 may be stuffed with good excelsior or 

 tow. For a preservative use Arsenic 

 and Alum equally mixed ; nothing else 

 will answer. "Plaster of Paris" will 

 be found to be very serviceable in clean- 

 ing and drying wet and bloody plum- 



