EQUIPMENT OF THE FIELD STUDENT 9 
names to have an undue significance. A species is not an entity or 
distinct creation, but merely one link in the chain of bird-life, which, 
because of the loss of the adjoining link or links, appears to stand by 
itself. Nor should he allow himself to think of a subspecies as materially 
different from the species which it represents, simply because it has 
received a distinctive name. Nomenclature gives undue emphasis 
to differences, whereas, it is equally important to emphasize resem- 
blances. 
THE EQUIPMENT OF THE FIELD STUDENT 
The Glass 
Note-books and Journals 
The Observation Blind 
Photographic Outfit 
Collector’s Outfit 
Glass.—A good field-glass is necessary, not alone as an aid in identify- 
ing birds, but in observing their actions. When one is working in fields 
and woods where the birds are comparatively near, a low-power glass 
with good illumination can be used more quickly and to better advantage 
than the higher-power glasses which require more frequent adjustment 
of focus, with consequent loss of time. But on the shore, or over the 
water, where birds are seen at great distances and where there is an 
abundance of light, the high-power glasses are much more serviceable. 
There is, however, a limit to the magnification which can be used 
effectively; the 8-power prism binocular of any one of half-a-dozen 
makes proving, in practice, to be best adapted to the bird student’s 
needs. Beyond this power, the increased precision required in focussing, 
and the need for greater steadiness when in use, do not compensate 
one for the larger size of the image it is possible to obtain. For a low- 
power glass I know of none better than the Lemaire pocket field-glass, 
which has a magnification of about four diameters. 
Note-Books and Journals.—The necessity for a well-kept journal 
and full field-notes cannot be too strongly urged. Specimens may be 
duplicated, but no one can ever see with your eyes. Do not trust your 
memory—a willing servant too frequently imposed on. It may receive 
and retain one impression clearly, but as others are added the earlier 
ones lose their distinctness or become entirely effaced. 
The system adopted for recording notes should be simple to keep 
and easy of reference. In the field, I use a pocket note-book arranged 
to hold perforated leaves. In such a book one enters descriptions of 
birds’ appearance and of their calls and song, and other memoranda 
which it is desired to commit at once to writing. No leaf should contain 
notes relating to more than one species, and the leaves, properly headed, 
may then be filed for reference, either alphabetically, or according to 
the classification of the American Ornithologists’ Union. 
