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In shooting birds, be careful to use shot of proper size. If the shot is 
too large it will make larger holes than necessary. The smallest sizes of 
shot (No. 12 and “dust shot”) will usually make such small holes that 
little blood will flow, but even the smallest shot will break legs, riddle 
beaks, and split feathers if used in large charges at close range. The col- 
lector should carry shells loaded with different sizes of shot, and carry these 
in different pockets so that the proper kind may be found when wanted. 
Game birds will usually be shot by ordinary shooting methods, and as they 
are usually obtainable in quantity, sportsmen are apt to use heavy charges 
to make large scores. Most of the species collected are non-game and will 
have to be stalked and “potted” in any way that will allow the bird to be 
killed at just the right distance to make a clean, perfect specimen. The 
collector of scientific material is not killing for “sport,” and rare or useful 
species should not be sacrificed to make a sporting shot. As some birds, 
such as warblers, are very restless and active, shooting them in thick bush 
is often as difficult as wing shooting, and “squib” loads of dust shot may 
have to be used in the “Aux.” barrel at very close range (See Coues, 1903, 
i, page 158). 
Methods vary for finding the different species. Some of the shy, 
meadow-and-marsh haunting species are more readily flushed by noisily 
tramping through the grass or water, as some of these birds sit close and 
will scarcely rise until nearly stepped on. In thick brush, the chances are 
that any bird or mammal will see or hear an intruder long before the 
latter suspects, and if afraid will flit away. In such cases it is best to 
walk slowly and carefully, and avoid making unnecessary and alarming 
noises. It is also advisable to sit down frequently, in places where there 
are small openings in the woods. Most of the small birds are curious and 
will come back to investigate. They appear to pay little attention to 
shape or colour of a large object, but notice the slightest movement. If 
the observer can remain without moving a muscle he may very soon have a 
number of birds around him. Making a squeaking noise by sucking with 
the lips pressed against the back of the hand, or merely squeaking with 
the lips will often bring numbers of birds very close, particularly during the 
spring and autumn migrations. Close imitation of the note of any particu- 
lar bird may help. Various duck calls have some effect on water birds, 
and the writer has seen an Eskimo call back a flock of whistling swans, 
which has passed half a mile beyond, by a skilful imitation of the 
swans’ notes. With the small woodland birds, the lure generally appears 
to be curiosity about any unusual bird-like sound, or the sound of a bird 
in distress. In British Columbia it is said that no bird collector can be 
really successful without imitating the note of the pygmy owl, as most 
of the small birds in the vicinity will rally at the sound of their favourite 
enemy. Other observers have drawn small birds around by setting a 
mounted screech owl in an exposed place and letting nature take its course. 
Preliminary Treatment of the Fresh Bird 
The freshly killed bird should be handled carefully, as two or three 
minutes’ attention at the start may easily save an hour’s time later. 
Carefully scrape any drops of blood from the feathers with a knife blade. 
A small wad of cotton dampened with water or saliva may be used to wipe 
