COLLECTING, 
II 
size of a jay, after which number eight will kill 
better and cleaner, and I should use this size as 
long as it will bring down the birds ; and it is sur- 
prising to see how large species may be killed with 
it. I have taken brown pelicans, wild geese, and 
large hawks with number eight, and I once secured 
a frigate-bird with it, all at good distances. For 
very large birds like cranes, white pelicans, or 
eagles I have used a rifle very successfully. A 
thirty-two gauge Allen is my favorite gun, and I 
have killed birds at all distances from twenty to 
three hundred and twenty-five yards with it. Of 
course, nearly all successful rifle shots must be 
made at sitting birds, as I have met with but few 
who could bring them down when flying. Another 
good method of securing large shy birds which go 
in flocks, is to load with buckshot, putting a stiff 
charge of powder, say three to five drachms, behind 
it, then fire into the flock from a distance, elevating 
the gun at an angle of some forty-five degrees 
above the birds. I have killed both species of pel- 
icans at two hundred yards distant in this way. 
Section III.: Procuring Birds. —Birds are 
to be found nearly everywhere, in fact, there is 
scarcely a square acre of land on the face of the 
earth which is not inhabited, at one season or 
