170 



A FLYING TEIP TO THE TROPICS. 



All this may be thought overdrawn, but everything that I have 

 related above occurred to me, and my object in writing this chapter 

 is to point out to others who may hereafter go on similar expedi- 

 tions how they may avoid my troubles. 



First of all, I should advise you to collect, when possible, in the 

 early morning. Get up by daybreak, and take a cup of coffee and 

 a mouthful of food before ooing^ out. You will find all birds stir- 

 ring at this hour, whilst at noon you will see few if any. Come in 

 before eleven o'clock, then rest a little, have your breakfast, skin 

 your birds carefully, write up your notes, prepare your ammunition, 

 etc., for the next day, and go to bed early. 



Now, in regard to. your skins : once that a skin has been thor- 

 oughly dried in good shape it will stand packing and transportation 

 with a fair amount of safety, therefore your aim should be to shape 

 and dry them properly. You may travel with a large and specially 

 prepared outfit, but small steamer trunks with several trays are very 

 well suited for packing and drying skins, being 

 lighter than chests, waterproof to some extent, 

 and furnished with good locks. 



Skins, whilst drying, are undoubtedly safest 

 from molestation when they are suspended, and 

 are also more out of your way. A trunk-tray 

 is easily hung up to a rope, a rafter, or a branch 

 of a tree, your dried skins can be kept safely in 

 it, and those that are drying can be placed on a 

 board crosswise on the tray. The point comes 

 up about the ants. I suggest the following : 

 A couple of tin cups, through the bottoms of 

 which pass a bar with a ring at each end. The 

 tray is suspended from the lower ring, the cup in turn from the 

 upper, and the cup being filled with water will effectually keep out 

 the ants. I would also recommend that a piece of gauze or mos- 

 quito net be spread over the tray when it is suspended. This will 

 not interfere with the drying, but will prevent the damage from 



SECTION OF CUP. 



