16 
CARE OF THE BIRD IN THE FIELD 
have added as many ‘records’ of the occurrence of species beyond 
the normal limits of their range; but in regions whose birds have been 
adequately collected, he will unquestionably render ornithology a far 
higher service by devoting himself to a study of biographic problems 
than by collecting specimens which, however much they may gratify 
his desire for acquisition and increase his personal acquaintance with 
birds, will add but little or nothing to the fund of ornithological 
knowledge. 
The student with some definite problem in view is always justified 
in taking the specimens which are required to aid in prosecuting his 
researches, nor can there be any reasonable objection to collecting 
for purposes of identification; but there can be no doubt that through- 
out the greater part of eastern North America there is no longer need for 
general, indiscriminate collecting. No better proof of the truth of this 
statement can be required than the fact that, as our introductory 
‘Historical Review’ shows, some of the most important additions to 
our knowledge of birds in this area, during the past fifteen years, have 
been made by men who are not collectors. 
There is no question of the destruction of life involved here. In 
only two or three instances has the collecting of birds for specimens 
appreciably affected the numbers of a species; and, as every one familiar 
with the facts involved knows, the results of general amateur collect- 
ing are absolutely inappreciable. Therefore, it is the student, rather 
than the bird, I have in mind, when I discourage further collecting 
in regions whose bird-life is already well-known. In most cases the 
time which he can give to bird study is limited, and the question is, 
shall he devote it to doing exactly what ornithologists for generations 
before him have done, or shall he, by concentrating on a definite prob- 
blem, do what no one has done? Can he not well afford to forego a 
general superficial knowledge of a large number of birds, such as many 
have had, for a special knowledge of some few birds such as no one 
has had? For the real student, imbued with the true spirit of research, 
there can be only one answer to this question. 
After this protest against unnecessary collecting, and the waste 
of opportunity it occasions, I add a description of the technique of 
birdskin making, for the use of those who may properly employ it. 
Care of the Bird in the Field . — On killing a bird, pick it up by the 
bill or feet, and at once sprinkle meal or dry earth on any blood which 
may be visible. When this is saturated, scrape it off with a knife-blade 
and repeat the operation until all the blood is absorbed. Sprinkle 
some meal at the base of the feathers about the shot-holes from which 
the blood appears, or, if necessary, plug these holes with bits of cotton. 
Place a large plug of cotton in the mouth and force it well down the 
throat to prevent bleeding at the mouth from an internal wound. In 
some cases it is necessary to also plug the nostrils. Now make a cornu- 
copia of stiff paper, drop the bird in it head foremost, taking care 
that the bill is not turned forward on to the throat, and, if the bird is 
