COLLECTING BIRDS 15 
one with sharp points and long handles, and one of medium size with 
blunt ends; one medium size, flat-end ‘eye-forceps’; thread, pins and 
needles. This outfit, which can be purchased of a dealer in naturalists’ 
supplies or surgical instruments, can be enlarged as circumstances 
require or taste directs. 
Any cotton will do for filling skins, but for use in wrapping them, 
procure the best cotton batting that money will buy. Usually it will be 
found that absorbent cotton, such as may be purchased at drug stores, 
will be as good as if not better than any which is available. 
Large birds may be filled with excelsior or a body made of crumpled 
newspaper, possibly covered with a thin sheet of cotton. 
REFERENCES 
1900. Pyncnon, W. H. C., A Method of Recording Observations, 
Bird-Lore, II, 19-22.—1900. Cuapman, F. M., Bird Studies with a Camera, 
12mo., 218 pp., illus. (Appleton).—1901. Herrick, F. H., The Home Life 
of Wild Birds, rev. ed., 1905, 8vo., 255 pp. (Putnam’s).—1902. Barvey, F.M. 
Handbook of Birds of Western United States, introduction (Houghton, 
Miffin & Co.).—1902. Ducmorsz, A. R., Nature and the Camera, 8vo., 
126 pp. (Doubleday).—1902. Friar, A. H., A Plan for Recording in a 
Condensed Form the Life History Notes of Birds, Auk, XIX, 189-195.— 
1904. BRowNELL, Photography for the Sportsman Naturalist (Macmillan). 
—1910. Jos, H. K., How to Study Birds, (Outing Co.).—1911. BrrtruamM, 
B., Photography for Bird Lovers, 12mo., 126 pp., illus. (Witherby, London.) 
CoLLEecTING Brrps, THEIR Nests anp Eaas 
Collecting Birds 
Care of the Bird in the Field 
Making Birdskins 
Sexing 
Cataloguing and Labeling 
Care of a Collection 
Collecting and Preserving Nests and Eggs 
Collecting Birds—When one goes to a country whose birds are 
unknown or but little known, the first thing to do is to collect and 
preserve them in order that they may be properly named and classified, 
and that our records of their distribution may rest on the tangible 
ground of specimens. 
This is the essential procedure in beginning the study of bird-life 
the world over, but once thoroughly done, it is neither necessary nor 
desirable to repeat it indefinitely. 
To say that one cannot become an ornithologist without first having 
been a collector of bird’s skins, is to confess ignorance of the advance 
which has been made in the methods and possibilities of bird study. 
The non-collector will possibly never have that intimate, personal, 
first-hand knowledge of specific differences which has been gained by 
the man who has handled many birds of his own killing, nor will he 
