122 the ornithologist's guide 



localities of the different species. It will afford 

 me much pleasure, if at some future period I 

 should hear from any traveller who may have con- 

 descended to read it, that he has found it correct, 

 or of the least service to him in obtaining the ob- 

 ject of his pursuit. — I shall now describe the va- 

 rious articles required by a traveller of this de- 

 scription, being such as I had with me, and which 

 I found to answer admirably. 



It will immediately strike any one previously to 

 his visiting these countries, if he is in the smallest 

 degree acquainted with the modes of conveyance, 

 that his luggage cannot be too portable, and this 

 must be particularly attended to. His guns should 

 be of the best description, for they are the most 

 essential articles, and on them in fact, coupled 

 with his own dexterity in using them, depends the 

 success of the collector. On my first journey I 

 fell into an error by having my guns too small 

 in the bore and too short in the barrel, and like- 

 wise too few in number. Previous to my second 

 visit I got three made of the following dimensions ; 

 they had the advantage of carrying a greater 

 charge, and of killing much further; it is true 

 they were considerably heavier than a common 

 fowling-piece, but this is not of much consequence 

 in shooting from a boat : the longest was four 



