BANDING AND KEEPING RECORDS 93 



when the initial or figure is struck on with the stamp 

 and a tap of the hammer. By the purchase of sheet 

 metal cut in strips of proper width, anyone can easily 

 make the open bands. We use open bands, for we 

 sometimes buy choice birds to get a different strain of 

 blood, when we can place such bands on them, but 

 could not use a closed band. 



Our record keeping has been a very simple one of 

 recording nest mates with a view of preventing in- 

 breeding. This is effectually done by banding in the 

 nest, and by using the open style ; we do not have to 

 place it during the first week of the squab's life but 

 can put it on at any time before the squab is old 

 enough to leave the nest. No other method than 

 this will surely distinguish the nest mates. We num- 

 ber the birds consecutively and make a record 

 as follows: 



R 1 146 C wh sp 



R 1 147 H Rch 



R 1 148 C B B 



R 1 149 C Bl ch 

 R1150 H D B 



Explanation of record chart. — We underscore af- 

 ter recording the squabs of each nest. The letter R, 

 is the initial of Rice; the numbers run consecutively; 

 C, stands for Cock; 1146 being a white-splashed, and 

 1 147 a red-checkered hen. The underscore shows that 

 these two were from the same nest. The blue-barred 

 cock. 1 148, was the only occupant of that nest, as the 

 underscore indicates, the other squab having died, or 

 the egg failed to hatch. No. 1 149 is a black-checkered 



