SEC. Ill SUGGESTIONS AND DIRECTIONS FOR FIEID-WORK 27 



rately ; but take a light cylinder of cotton, lay it transversely across 

 the base of the upper mandible, closely covering the nostrils, and 

 confine it there by tucking each end tightly into the corner of the 

 mouth. In default of such nice fixing as this, a pinch of dry loam 

 pressed on a bleeding spot will plaster itself there and stop further 

 mischief. Never try to vA^e off fresh blood that has already wetted 

 the plumage ; you will only make matters worse. Let it dry on, 

 and then — but the treatment of blood-stains, and other soilings of 

 plumage, is given beyond. 



Carrying- Birds Home Safe. — Suppose you have secured a fine 

 specimen, very likely without a soiled or ruified feather ; your next 

 care will be to keep it so till you are ready to skin it. But if you 

 pocket or bag it directly, it will be a sorry-looking object before 

 you get home. Each specimen must be separately cared for, by 

 wrapping in stout paper ; writing paper is as good as any, if not 

 the best. It will repay you to prepare a stock of paper before 

 starting out ; your most convenient sizes are those of a half-sheet 

 of note, of letter, and of cap respectively. Either take these, or 

 fold and cut newspaper to correspond. Plenty of paper will go in 

 the breast pockets of the shooting coat. Make a "cornucopia," — 

 the simplest thing in the world, but, like tying a particular knot, 

 hard to explain. Setting the wings closely, adjusting disturbed 

 feathers, and seeing that the bill points straight forward, thrust the 

 bird head-first into one of these paper cones, till it will go no 

 farther, being bound by the bulge of the breast. Let the cone be 

 large enough for the open end to fold over or pinch together entirely 

 beyond the tail. Be particular not to crumple or bend the tail- 

 feathers. Lay the paper cases in the game bag or great pocket so 

 that they very nearly run parallel and lie horizontal; they will 

 carry better than if thrown in at random. Avoid overcrowding the 

 packages, as far as is reasonably practicable ; moderate pressure 

 will do no harm, but if great it may make birds bleed afresh, or 

 cause the fluids of a wounded intestine to ooze out and soak the 

 plumage of the belly, — a very bad accident indeed. For similar 

 obvious reasons, do not put a large heavy bird on top of a lot of 

 little ones ; I would sooner sling a hawk or heron over my shoulder, 

 or carry it by hand. If it goes in the bag, see that it gets to the 

 bottom. Avoid putting birds in pockets that are close about your 

 person ; they are almost always unduly pressed, and may gain 

 enough additional warmth from your body to make them begin to 

 decompose before you are ready to skin them. Handle birds no 

 more than is necessary, especially white-plumaged ones ; ten to one 

 your hands are powder-begrimed : and besides, even the warmth 

 and moisture of your palms may tend to injure a delicate feather- 

 ing. Ordinarily pick up a bird by the feet or bill ; as you need 



