12 
FIELD OBNITHOLOGY. 
of migrants about equals that of summer visitants ; the permanent residents equal the winter 
residents, both these being fewer than either of the first mentioned sets ; while the irregular vis- 
itors, or stragglers, that complete the bird fauna, are about, or rather less than one-half as many 
as the species of either of the other categories. About Washington, therefore, I would readily 
undertake to secure a greater variety of birds in the nine weeks above speciiied than in all the 
rest of the year; for in that time would be found, not only all the permanent residents, but nearly 
all the migrants, and almost all the summer visitants ; while the number of individual birds 
that might be taken exceeds, by quite as much, the number of those procurable in the same 
length of time at any other season. Mutatis mutandis, it is the same everywhere in this 
country. Look out then, for the season ; " work all through it at a rate you could not 
possibly sustain the year around; and make hay while the sun shines, {h.) Time of day. 
Early in the morning and late in the afternoon are the best times for birds. There is a myste- 
rious something in these diurnal crises that sets bird- life astir, over and above what is ex- 
plainable by the simple fact that they are the transition periods from repose to activity, or 
the reverse. Subtile meteorological changes occur; various delicate instruments used in 
physicists' researches are sometimes inexplicably disturbed ; diseases have often their turning 
point for better or worse ; people are apt to be born or die ; and the susceptible organisms of 
birds manifest various excitements. Whatever the operative influence, the fact is, birds are 
particularly lively at such hours. In the dark, they rest — most of them do; at noonday, 
again, they are comparatively still ; between these times they are passing to or from their 
feeding grounds or roosting places; they are foraging for food, they are singing; at any rate, 
they are in motion. Many migratory birds (among them warblers, etc.) perform their journeys 
by night ; just at daybreak they may be seen to descend from the upper regions, rest a while, 
and then move about briskly, singing and searching for food. Their meal taken, they recu- 
perate by resting till towards evening ; feed again and are off for the night. If you have had 
some experience, don't you remember what a fine spurt you made early that morning? — 
how many unexpected shots ofi'ered as you trudged home belated that evening ? Now I am 
no fowl, and have no desire to adopt the habits of the hen-yard ; I have my opinion of those 
who like the world before it is aired ; I think it served the worm right for getting up, when 
cauglit by the early bird ; nevertheless I go shooting betimes in the morning, and would walk 
all night to find a rare bird at daylight, (c.) Weather. It rarely occurs in this country that 
either heat or cold is unendurably severe; but extremes of temperature are unfavorable, for two 
reasons : they both occasion great personal discomfort ; and in one extreme only a few hardy 
birds will be found, while in the other most birds are languid, disposed to seek shelter, and 
therefore less likely to be found. A still, cloudy day of moderate temperature offers as a rule 
the best chance ; among other reasons, there is no sun to blind the eyes, as always occurs on a 
bright day in one direction, particularly when the sun is low. While a bright day has its good 
influence in setting many birds astir, some others are most easily approached in heavy or fall- 
ing weather. Some kinds are more likely to be secured during a light snowfall,, or after a 
storm. Singular as it may seem, a thoroughly wet day ofi'ers some peculiar inducements tO' 
the collector. I cannot well specify them, but I heartily indorse a remark John Cassin once 
made to me: — I like," said he, ''to go shooting in the rain sometimes; there are some 
curious things to be learned about birds when the trees are dripping, things too that have not 
yet found their way into the books." 
How many Birds of the Same Kind do you want? — All you can get — with some 
reasonable limitations: say fifty or a hundred of any but the most abundant and widely diff'used 
species. You may often be provoked with your friend for speaking of some bird he shot, but 
did not bring you, because, he says, "Why, you've got one like that!" Birdskins are 
capital; capital unemployed may be useless, but can never be worthless. Birdskins are a 
