200 



HINTS FOR COLLECTING WATER-BIRDS. 



together; it is, however, a difficult task; many of the species are 

 exceedingly rare, and most of them shy and difficult of approach, — and 

 frequenting the marshes, sea shores, and wastes, are not so generally 

 known as land birds, which are constantly before us ; and it is to be 

 regretted that so many of them are disfigured, and their beautiful pro- 

 portions and elegant attitudes entirely destroyed in setting up • they 

 are difficult birds to do well, and it is impossible for any one to give a 

 natural air to them who has not made himself acquainted with the 

 living animals ; but whether a duck, a sand-piper, a hawk, or a warb- 

 ler, they are, by the generality of bird-stuffers, all done on one prin- 

 ciple ; the consequence is, that if one is well done, the others are sure 

 to be spoiled, — and I think it will generally be found that they do 

 large birds better than small ones. Bird-stuffing cannot be done or 

 explained by fixed rules ; every group of birds requires something 

 peculiar to be observed, either in fixing the leg wires, the degree of 

 fulness which should be given them, and many little particulars only to 

 be acquired by practice, but without a knowledge of which birds never 

 look well ; and admitting a bird to be properly stuffed and ready for 

 mounting, here if the artist be not acquainted with the attitudes of 

 the species he is at work upon, all his former care in stuffing will not 

 enable him to give his bird a correct and lively appearance, but it will 

 look, as stuffed birds, and particularly sand-pipers and their affinities, 

 too often do, stiff" and unsightly, without any resemblance of nature. 



J3ut to proceed ; and next of the gallinule (Gallinula chloropus), of 

 which an old and young one should be procured ; the red on their bill 

 is brightest in the spring, and the young do not acquire it at all till the 

 second winter ; the female is not quite so bright as the male. 



The coot (Fulica atra) varies but little; the male has rather a larger 

 frontlet than the female, and in the young it is very small. 



The phalarope (Phalaropus platyrhinchus) undergoes similar changes 

 to the knot and god wit, and has been called, according to season, the 

 red and grey phalarope ; it is of course desirable to get them in both 

 dresses, but they are not often to be met with. 



Of the grebes old and young are quite requisite. A fine old crested 

 grebe (Podiceps cristalus) has an exceedingly curious appearance, but 

 it is not very easily got in that state, although the young are common 

 enough, they do not get quite perfect till the third winter. The Dab- 

 chick (P- minor) is also three years before it gets its black chin and 

 perfect adult plumage. 



J come now to the web-footed tribes (Palmipedes) — and first of the 



