MODE OF CAPTUKE. 
PBESERVATION. 
263 
original cost, setting aside the expenses of freight, &c. 
"Vre have made it a practice, however, with such of our 
foreign correspondents who contrihute specimens to our 
museum, to give the best advice we can on these occa- 
sions, considering it as the only return we can make for 
their voluntary donations, hut we recommend no one to 
make pecuniary speculations in subjects of natural his- 
tory, under the idea that the prices to be obtained will 
repay them for the cost or trouble of their original ac- 
quisition. 
(218.) We now proceed to the practical part of our 
subject, commencing wdth the most simple, and pro- 
ceeding to the more perfect methods of procuring and 
preserving birds. Those persons who have neither skill 
or time to shoot or preserve, may procure the small 
birds of any country from an ordinary sportsman, and 
put them at once into wdde-raouthed bottles or jars, 
filled with weak spirits, in which state, after being well 
corked and rosined, they may be transmitted to Eng- 
land. This easy method will do very well among the 
generally indolent West Indians, where poor rum may- 
be had almost for nothing, and pickle jars, originally 
from England, may be returned refilled. Those who 
could attord the time might attach a bit of stick, 
marked with notches, to such specimens, regarding 
which they are desirous to give, or receive, information. 
The most common species may be put up in this way, 
which is always the best where the internal structure is 
the chief object for subsequent investigation. 
(219.) The ornithological sportsman, who intends 
preserving his game, should carry in his bag a small 
quantity of cotton or tow to put in the mouths, or over 
the bleeding wounds of each specimen as it is killed, to 
prevent one soiling the other ; or those who are very 
particular may wrap each in a piece of paper. The 
best time for shooting, in all countries, is very early m 
the morning, when the notes of the different species 
are heard, and the best season, when there is a choice, 
is that which precedes the breeding, or the time of 
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