COLLECTING. 3 1 



and kill them, and have done it with my hands 

 alone. 



Wounded doves and pigeons should be grasped 

 very firmly, and not allowed to struggle in the 

 least, as their feathers fall out very easily ; and 

 the same is true, though to a less extent, with 

 cuckoos ; in fact, it is always best to brush the 

 plumage as little as possible, handling the speci- 

 men when dead by the feet or bill. In picking up 

 white herons or other birds which have fallen in 

 mud or other dirty water, take them up by the bill 

 and shake them gently to remove the ooze. The 

 feathers of all birds, especially aquatic species, 

 are covered with a delicate oil, and all extraneous 

 matter glides off the plumage if they are not 

 soaked in water. In catching wounded herons, 

 take them by the beak to avoid the danger of 

 losing an eye from a lunge of the sharp point. 

 When a bird is to be placed in a basket or on a 

 bench, do not throw it down, but lay it gently on 

 its back, always bearing in mind that the smoother 

 a bird is kept before it is skinned the better it will 

 look when preserved. I have even noticed that 

 the true ornithological enthusiast always keeps 

 his birds in good condition, while others who 

 merely shoot birds for the momentary pleasure of 



