SEC. Ill SUGGESTIONS AND DIRECTIONS FOR FIELD-WORK 21 



region the ornithology of which is well known, at once stop killing 

 these common birds — they are in every collection. Keep an eye 

 on them, studying them always, but turn your actual pursuit into 

 other channels, until in this way, gradually eliminating the un- 

 desirables, you exhaust the Ijird-fauna as far as possible (you will not 

 quite, exhaust it — at least for many years). But if you are in a new 

 or little-known locality, I had almost said the very reverse course 

 is the best. The chances are that the most abundant and character- 

 istic birds there are " rare " in collections. Many a bird's range 

 is quite restricted : you may happen to be just at its metropolis ; 

 seize the opportunity, and get good store, — yes, up to fifty or a 

 hundred ; all you can spare will be thankfully received by those who 

 have none. Quite as likely, birds that are scarce just where you 

 happen to be, are so only because you are on the edge of their 

 habitat, and are plentiful in more accessible regions. But, rare or 

 not, it is always a point to determine the exact geographical dis- 

 tribution of a species ; and this is fixed best by having specimens 

 to tell each its own tale, from as many different and widely-separated 

 localities as possible. This alone warrants procuring one or more 

 specimens in every locality ; the commonest bird acquires a certain 

 value if it be captured away from its ordinary range. But let all 

 your justifiable destruction of birds be tempered with mercy ; your 

 humanity will be continually shocked with the havoc you work, 

 and should never permit you to take life wantonly. Never shoot 

 a bird you do not fully intend to preserve, or to utilise in some 

 proper way. Bird -life is too beautiful a thing to destroy to no 

 purpose ; too sacred a thing, like all life, to be sacrificed, unless 

 the tribute is hallowed by worthiness of motive. " Not a sparrow 

 falleth to the ground without His notice." 



I should not neglect to speak particularly of the care to be taken 

 to secure full suites of females. Most miscellaneous collections con- 

 tain four or more males to every female — a disproportion that should 

 be as far reduced as possible. The reason for this disparity is obvious : 

 females are usually more shy and retiring in disposition, and less 

 frequently noticed ; while their smaller size and plainer plumage, as 

 a rule, further favour their concealment. The difference in colour- 

 ing is greatest among those groups where the males are most richly 

 clad, and the shyness of the mother birds is most marked during 

 the breeding season, just when the males, full of song, and in their 

 nuptial attire, become most conspicuous. It is often worth while 

 to neglect the gay Benedicts, to trace out and secure the plainer but 

 not less interesting females. This pursuit, moreover, often leads to 

 discovery of the nests and eggs, — an important consideration. 

 Although both sexes are generally found together when breeding, 

 and mixing indiscriminately at other seasons, they often go in sepa- 



