FIRST ACQUAINTANCE WITH BIRDS 



aid one may learn much of their movements, and 

 even observe the kind of food they consume. A 

 very serviceable glass may be secured at a price 

 varying from five to ten dollars. The National 

 Association of Audubon Societies, New York City, 

 sells a popular one for five dollars. If you choose 

 a more expensive, high-powered binocular, it will be 

 found of greater advantage when watching birds at a 

 distance, as on a lake or at the seashore. 



Notebooks. — The bird student should early ac- 

 quire the custom of making notes on such subjects 

 as are of special interest. In listening to the song 

 or call of some unknown bird, the notes can usually 

 be written down in characters of human speech so 

 that they may be recalled later with sufficient ac- 

 curacy to identify the singer. It is well to keep a 

 list of the species observed when on a trip. For 

 many years in my field excursions I have kept care- 

 ful lists of the birds seen and identified, and have 

 found these notes to be of subsequent use and 

 pleasure. In college and summer-school work I 

 [9] 



