THE OOLOGIST. 



63 



We are frequently asked if it is necessa- 

 ry subscriptions should date from any par- 

 ticular time. Though we believe it is bet- 

 ter, both to subscribers and to ourselves, 

 that subscriptions should date from the 

 commencement of the volume, it is, of course 

 optional with the subscriber Avhen he desires 

 to commence. We are also constantly ask- 

 ed if we can supply all the back numbers 

 of this journal. In reply, we would state 

 that we are unable to furnish any back num- 

 bers prior to June, 1876. l^-^Any of our 

 subscribers having copies previous to that 

 date, can obtain a liberal price for them by 

 sending; to this office. 



Collecting Bird-skins. 



Mr. W. H. Ballou, of Evanston, Ills., 

 invites collectors to send him the data of 

 eggs collected this season, including the 

 number of species and specimens, with ac- 

 companying items of date and approximate 

 locality. His purpose is to compile a table 

 showing the progress and amount of oolog- 

 ical collecting done thi-oughout the country, | 

 and the idea is a very good one. In behalf! 

 of Mr. Ballon we would ask that collectors ! 

 send the information as above detailed, as- ■ 

 suring our readers that by so doing they 

 will confer a favor which will be duly ap- 

 preciated ; and if sutficient encouragement 

 is given the request, the wliole will form a 

 valuable contribution to The Oologist, to 

 be published in tabular form. Let Mr. Bal- 

 lon receive an unanimous response. 



Though we are at all times willing to 

 exchange for desirable specimens of birds' 

 eggs, we would request our numerous cor- 

 respondents to be lenient in their offers of 

 duplicates. We cannot possibly exchange 

 for specimens we do not want, and when 

 our correspondents make us proposals, we 

 beg they may offer some desirable species, 

 for otherwise needless correspondence oc- 

 curs that may. be avoided. 



Patronage will bring improvement. 



GOOD collection of bird-skins is to 

 the student of bird history and char- 

 acter, an acquisition of considerable 

 value in more ways than one. The oolo- 

 gist need not necessarily confine his inqui- 

 ries to birds' eggs, for a great amount of 

 information attaching to, or rather connect- 

 ed with, the study of birds' eggs, may be 

 adduced from their skins. The trouble and 

 inconvenience of procuring and preparing 

 bird-skins are obstacles ever present in 

 forming a cabinet, and yet a little perse- 

 verance and practice will in a short time 

 effect much, and inculcate an interest that 

 usually in the end renders all ditBculties 

 easily surmountable. 



Much of the success of a newly started 

 collection of bird-skins depends upon the 

 equipment and advantages of the naturalist. 

 One cannot make a good bird-skin without 

 the proper tools and necessary acquaintance 

 with the art of a portion, at least, of tax- 

 idermy, no more than he can shoot the 

 specimens without a weapon and amuni- 

 tion. All, however, that is really neces- 

 sary in the way of implements, are a sharp 

 scalpel or thin-bladed knife, a pair of scis- 

 sors, and the preservative arsenic, with cot- 

 ton to give form to the skin. Obtaining 

 the specimens and getting them home un- 

 soiled and uninjured, requires patience and 

 care, for what with blood-stains, mudded 

 or wet plumage, severed legs and wings, 

 and other minor embarrassments, one has 

 quite enough to attend to. Inconvenience 

 in carrying the specimens while in the field 

 contributes not a little to the disagreeable 

 side of collecting. The student should have 

 a collecting box or basket, made as nearly 

 as possible adapted for carrying specimens ; 

 a game-bag is for continued and rough use, 

 hardly an advisable receptacle, as the birds 

 are subject to pressure and the quills are 

 liable to be broken. Cotton, and plaster 

 of Paris or any other absorbent, should be 

 taken along, the former for stopping the 

 nostrils and mouth, the latter for applying 



