IDENTIFICATION OF WILD DUCKS' DOWNS. 371 



neatly, to cards or slips, or folded pieces of. paper, for comparing 

 under Sonirnerfeldt's system, and the microscope. 



(e). But first and foremost, and most important of all, each 

 " clutch " or nest of eggs, and accompanying down and feathers, 

 must he carefully collected and thoroughly identified ; and it is 

 impossible to expend too great trouble in this authentication, as a 

 first and necessary step, if the collection is to be of any value or use- 

 fulness afterwards. 



(f). Then — and supposing a collection of thoroughly identified 

 clutches (I don't admire the word "clutch": it reminds me of 

 rather wholesale lifting ; but I use it as at least descriptive) have 

 been procured and carefully treated — then these should be exa- 

 mined and compared always in a northern light, and in absence 

 of direct sun-rays — an artist's light, in fact— if in bulk. Single 

 sprays may (ought to) be examined in both lights, and results 

 carefully noted in note-book or on cards enclosed in the boxes. 



(g). An ordinary Salvin cabinet drawer of requisite depth will 

 hold eight of these boxes, and the drawer may have a lid, or be 

 only a tray with a rim, slightly higher than the boxes'. 



(h). If an extensive collection for more thorough comparisons 

 be made, each drawer may be used to hold, say, as many as eight 

 " clutches " of the same species from different localities ; or, if 

 this be considered too wholesale a method, one or two eggs with 

 the downs may suffice. Or, if the items be reduced to, say, four 

 of each species, or two of each species, still there will be good 

 material for comparisons, either inter se, or subsequently with 

 others which require authentication. 



Needless to say, the collector's note-books ought to contain 

 the very fullest and most careful accounts of each " setting of 

 eggs," and it would be well if photography can be called in to 

 identify the birds upon the nests. 



I now proceed to revise the articles. 



Ducks' Down. 



1st.— Dresser, H. E. (Zool. 1867, June, p. 776), quotes Som- 

 merfeldt in his " List of the Birds noticed in East Finmark," 

 Zool. S. S. 700, and ditto, 761, &c). 



Sommerfeldt described the downs of the following ducks taken 

 from nests by Lapps, from single sprays. 



