COLLECTING BIRDS. 95 



handled with great care, until the bodies stiffen, and the 

 blood ceases to flow. When killed, they should be lifted 

 by the legs, and the blood removed from the plumage by 

 pressing it out with the blade of a dull knife. The blood 

 may also be absorbed, by using line sawdust, corn-meal, 

 or bran. 



The plumage should be well shaken and arranged, and 

 the specimen carefully carried until camp is reached. A 

 large-sized fish-basket, slung from the shoulder, is the 

 best receptacle for small birds. They may be buried in fine 

 sawdust, wrapped in sheet-wadding, or placed heads down- 

 ward in paper funnels. The funnels should extend be- 

 yond the end of the tails, and so folded as to prevent the 

 feathers from being cramped and disfigured. 



Large birds are troublesome to carry. They should be 

 hung by the legs over the shoulder, where they will be of 

 little inconvenience, and rest quietly without chafing the 

 plumage. Birds with a soft plumage, and long wings 

 and tails, are the most disfigured in transportation. 

 Others with a hard plumage, such as ducks, divers, 

 grebes, guillemots, etc., will stand rough handling and 

 make up well in skins. 



The sexes of American birds of the same species, vary 

 greatly in size and plumage, while others are precisely 

 alike in plumage. With some, such as the ducks, grouse, 

 crows, black-birds, and most of our bright-plumaged 

 birds, the adult males are easily recognized by their large 

 size and bright colors. 



With eagles, hawks, owls, gulls, sand-pipers, plovers, 

 snipe, woodcock, etc., the females, though nearly like the 

 males in plumage, are much larger in size, and adults 

 may be easily recognized. 



Many species do not attain their full plumage until the 

 third or fourth year, and nearly all sport a different dress 

 for spring and autumn. The spring plumage of nearly 

 all species is bright and beautiful, while, with but few ex- 



