August i, 1891] 



THE HUMMING BIRD. 



63 



Herodias garzetta found all over the world. Middle 

 Osprey is slightly longer with straight tip. 



Long Osprey is about 15 inches long, straight at 

 tip. They are taken from Herodias egretta, found 

 chiefly in South America. 



It is important to kill the birds during spring ; 

 because in summer, the tips of the feathers are 

 worn and of much less value. 



To this day no attempt has been made to domesticate 

 these birds, as it is done with Ostriches, Pheasants, and 

 many other species of birds, and I am convinced that 

 a serious attempt in that direction would prove very 

 beneficial to the inovator. 



Besides the Ospreys the feathers of many other 

 species of Herons such as : Bubulcus let's, Ardea cinerea 

 and cocoi, Florida cœrulea, Plotus anhinga, etc., etc., are 

 also employed by Plumassiers ; but the price is much 

 less, ranging from two to six shillings per ounce. 



White and Grey Paddy produces also feathers 

 which are sometimes in great demand and fetch a 

 good price. Vulture, Emeus, Rhea or American 

 Ostrich, Peacock, Turkey and other feathers are also 

 useful, especially for the Plumassiers and feather 

 dusters trades. They fetch more or less according to 

 the demand. 



Then a very large number of species of Birds are 

 also wanted. Foremost of all, the well-known Birds 

 of Paradise and the Long Tail Trogan. 



All of them fetch a price which will repay the trouble 

 of the collector. After these, the species most in 

 demand are the Chatterer, Cock of Rock, blue Macaw 

 and several other species wanted by the Plumassiers 

 and Fishing Tackle Makers. 



Then comes at last the immense variety of small 

 birds ; such as Tanagers, Blue Creepers, King Fishers, 

 Sea - Swallows, Merles, Starlings, Jays, Waxwings, 

 Humming birds of all descriptions, etc., etc. 



The large species of Birds such as Herons, Flamin- 

 goes, Pelicans, etc., can be sent in flat skins, the others 

 must be sent in good round skins as if they were for 

 scientific collections, and the better the skins will be 

 prepared, the better they will sell. 



Lately very large consignments have been sent 

 from N. Africa, India, Japan and S. America, and the 

 prices have somewhat fallen ; but it is probable that 

 a rise will soon take place. 



GENERAL REMARKS. 



All descriptions of Natural History Collections 

 may be easily sold if they are well collected and 

 arrive in a perfect state of preservation. 



They must be sent home frequently and in small 

 portions ; for the following reasons. 



1. It is easier to sell small than large collections. 



2. If the package or preparation has been done 

 badly, your correspondent can forward immediately 

 new instructions which will permit to make the 

 next sending with more success. 



It will be very good when collecting to be in relation 

 with a naturalist for the sale of your collections. I 

 make the offer to those who will send me collec- 

 tions well preserved, to sell them on their account or 

 buy them at the prices which I have indicated. 



To collect Reptiles, Fish, Insects, and Shells, it is 

 necessary to buy the following utensils. 



Benzine, tin boxes for Insects, several bottles, glass 

 tubes or phials, digger, butterfly and other nets, 

 umbrella for collecting Insects, Cork, Pins for Insects, 

 Pill boxes of several sizes, Boucard's Insecticide, flax, 

 cotton, and nippers. 



Collect especially Reptiles, Fish, Shells, and among 

 Insects, Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. 



Twenty-five specimens of each species of Reptiles, 

 Fish, Crustacean, and Arachnides are sufficient. 



Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, and Shells fifty specimens 

 of each, and thirty of other Insects. 



One thousand seeds of palm trees of each species, 

 and two or three pounds of seeds of all trees, bushes 

 and plants of the country. 



Large beetles are not to be pinned ; wrap them 

 separately in paper, and dry them in the sun, eight 

 or ten days are sufficient. Then pack them in a box 

 with saw dust, or any soft substance. 



Very large species of marine Shells, Reptiles, 

 Fossils, etc., will be sent, only if ordered, to avoid 

 the cost of transport, which in many cases would 

 be more than the value of the object. 



One specimen of each species of all the animals 

 collected should have a number attached to it, 

 corresponding to one in a list in which you wil 

 indicate exactly the country where found, the month 

 and the year when collected, the local name, the 

 habits and other particulars of interest. 



This list will be sent in the same box as the 

 objects. 



When you change your residence, change your 

 collecting bottles, in order to send in each only 

 those animals which have been collected in the 

 same place. 



Reptiles are abundant in spring and summer ; the 

 best season for Insects and Shells is the rainy one ; 

 the more it rains, the more Insects and Shells you 

 will find. 



Mammals and birds are found abundantly in 

 spring and summer. 



Both sexes and youngs of each species must be 

 collected. 



Humming-bird and other curious shaped form 

 Nests should also be collected ; as well as eggs of 

 all the species. 



Small Mammals ; such as Bats, Rats, Moles, 

 Shrew-Mouses, etc., should be sent skinned, and 

 also in spirit. 



Particular genera of birds not found in Europe 

 should also be sent in spirit. Make an incision in 

 the middle of the belly to allow the spirit to get in. 



Now I will conclude with a few words of warning. 

 If you have no taste for Natural History, don't 

 attempt to make collections. Before all, if you do, 

 select a well-known Naturalist as Correspondent, 

 otherwise you will not know what to send and the 

 result will be probably a failure. 



In all countries, there are objects of Natural 

 History of value or of scientific interest ; but it is 

 only the experienced Naturalists who can make 

 out for you, the list of the species wanted, 

 otherwise to acquire experience it will take many 

 years and will cost money. 



A. BOUCARD. 



