18 Miscellaneous Circular 18, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. 
the palm, and close the little finger over the neck, and the other 
fingers around the body. This position is exactly the reverse of the 
original one, in that the bird’s feet, wings, and tail are now held 
by the second finger, whereas in the other case this was accomplished 
by the little finger against the palm. The thumb and index fingers 
are now free to hold the tarsus while attaching the band. (See 
fig 16.) 
This system of handling small birds has been found to be entirely 
satisfactory where the fingers of the operator are long and slender. 
But operators who have short, stocky hands will do well to learn 
the method indicated in Figure 17. In this method the bird is taken 
from the gathering cage in the same manner, but instead of pinion- 
ing the feet, the right foot is grasped between thumb and second 
B24997 
Fic. 18.—Manner of holding ducks for banding. Birds of this family are usually re- 
markably gentle when they realize that they are prisoners. 
finger, the other fingers supporting the bird’s weight. In this 
way, the bird’s wings are held against the palm of the hand, the 
only part left free being the left foot, and with this foot the bird 
will usually grasp the little finger. 
Ducks, and some other birds of similar size usually are remarkably 
gentle once they realize that they are helpless. Figure 18 shows a 
drake mallard, one of several hundred caught and banded by the 
writer; almost without exception, these were easily held by light 
pressure against the body, the leg being the only part actually held. 
Great care must be exercised in working with herons, as these 
birds strike with snakelike rapidity, and the blow is lkely to be 
toward the eyes, because of their brightness. Hold the heron’s neck 
firmly, and, if possible, cover its entire body with a sack or old coat 
during the banding operation. 
