Chapter VI: 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 another, by some species, and many are found on the beaches, and on the ocean itself. Following are some of the localities in which our American species are to be found; and, presumably, foreign birds of the same families will occur in similar places.

TURDIDÆ: THRUSHES.--Of these, the robin is the most common and is found everywhere. Next among the true thrushes are the olive-backed, hermit, and allied species. These occur usually in woodlands, and are rather shy, keeping at a distance. The wood thrush inhabits deeply-wooded glens. The mocking thrushes prefer thickets in the neighborhood of dwellings,--for example, the cat-bird. The brown thrush also inhabits thickets, but are not, as a rule, fond of the society of man, while the smaller thrushes, of which the golden-crowned is an example, prefer the woodlands; and the two water thrushes are found in swampy localities.

SAXICOLIDÆ: STONE-CHATS.--The blue-birds are often sociable, building in orchards and farmyards, while the western species appear to prefer mountain cliffs as breeding-places. The rare stone-chat is, I think, found in open sections where it occurs at all.

CINCLIDÆ: OUZEL.--The solitary species of ouzel found with us inhabits the mountain streams of the far west.

SYLVIDÆ: TRUE WARBLERS.--Are pre-eminently birds of the woodlands, but occasionally the kinglets, notably the golden-crowned, will wander into orchards during mild days in winter.

CHAMÆIDÆ: WRENTITS.--The only species found in the United States inhabits the sage-brush in the far southwest.

PARIDÆ: TITMICE.--Are also found in the woods or thickets, but some species wander into the orchards during winter.

SITTIDÆ: NUTHATCHES.--Are birds of the woodlands as a rule, but the white and red-bellied nuthatches wander considerably in autumn, while the brown-headed seldom if ever leave the piny woods of the south.

TROGLODYTIDÆ: WRENS.--The creeper-wrens are found among the cacti of the far southwest, while the rock-wrens occur among thickets in a similar region. The true wrens are found in thickets, often in the neighborhood of dwellings, in which they frequently build, while the two marsh wrens occur on both salt and fresh water marshes throughout the country.

ALAUDIDÆ: TRUE LARKS.--These birds occur on the far prairies, on the coast of Labrador, and in winter along the barren seashores of the northern and middle section.

MOTACILIDÆ: WAGTAILS.--Are also birds of the open country, and the titlark is found in fields during the migrations, especially along the coast from Maine to Florida.

SYLVICOLIDÆ: AMERICAN WARBLERS.--These gems of the woodland and of wayside thickets abound throughout the length and breadth of our country. During the migrations they are generally distributed, it not being uncommon, then, to find even the Blackburnian warbler, which, during the nesting season, is pre-eminently a bird of the deep woods, feeding in the open fields, while I have taken the Cape May warbler, which occurs in summer in the thick evergreens of the north, feeding among the oranges and bananas in the gardens of Key West. Warblers then should be looked after nearly everywhere, among willows by the brookside, on the barren hill-tops which scarcely support a scant growth of pine or cedars, and on the blooming trees of orchards. Some species are exceedingly shy, so as to require a heavy charge of dust-shot to reach them, while others are so tame as to peer inquisitively into the very face of a collector as he makes his way through their chosen retreats.

TANAGRIDÆ: TANAGERS.--These strikingly colored birds are usually found in the woods, occasionally however visiting the open sections. They are rather shy and retiring in habits, and their presence must be usually detected by their song.

HIRUNDINIDÆ: SWALLOWS.--Are birds of the open country, and are more common in the vicinity of settlements than elsewhere. The violet-green swallow, however, occurs among the cliffs of the Rocky Mountains.

AMPELIDÆ: WAXWINGS.--Are, as a rule, found in the open country in the vicinity of settlements; and even the Bohemian waxwings occur abundantly in some of the cities of Utah in winter, feeding upon the fruit of the ornamental trees.

VIREONIDÆ: VIREOS.--These widely-distributed birds are usually fond of the woodlands, but the white-eye prefers thickets in swampy places, while the warbling is seldom found far from settlements; indeed, more often inhabits trees which grow in the streets of villages than other sections.

LANIIDÆ: SHRIKES.--Are found in open sections, often in fields, and on the uninhabited Indian hunting-grounds of Florida. I found the loggerheads along the borders of the open prairies.

FRINGILLIDÆ: FINCHES, SPARROWS, AND GROSBEAKS.--These are, as a rule, found mainly in the more open country. The cross-bills, however, enter thick woods, especially evergreens. The grosbeaks, notably the rose-breast, prefer the woodlands. The blue sparrows, like the indigo bird, are found in open fields grown up to bushes. The snow-buntings occur in open fields and along barren sections of seaboard, while the sharp-tailed and sea-side finches inhabit the marshes. The grass sparrows, notably the yellow-winged, Henslow's, and Leconte's, prefer grassy plains. Last winter I procured all three species of this genus (_Coturniculus_) on a plantation in Western Florida, securing them all in three successive shots, a feat which has, I am certain, never before been accomplished. Many of these grass-haunting birds have to be shot as they rise from the herbage to fly away, but I found, by persistingly following a specimen from point to point, that after a time it would settle in a bush, when I could secure it with my repeating collecting gun.

ICTERIDÆ: ORIOLES, BLACKBIRDS, ETC.--Orioles prefer, as a rule, orchards and ornamental trees about dwellings, but they sometimes occur in the more open woodlands. The marsh blackbirds, like the red-wings and yellow-headed, prefer wet meadows. The rusty and brewer's are found in swamps. The crow blackbirds and boat-tailed occur in fields and along the borders of streams.

CORVIDÆ: CROWS, JAYS, ETC.--These usually occur in the woodlands or thickets. Crows frequent the seashore in numbers in winter, and may be secured by exposing meat which is poisoned by strychnine, as they will frequently eat it during the inclement season. Canada and blue jays occur in woods, while the Florida and California jays inhabit thickets.

TYRANNIDÆ: FLYCATCHERS.--Are widely distributed species. The king-birds are found in the more open sections, and the same is true of the crested flycatchers. The bridge pewee inhabits the vicinity of dwellings, while the wood pewee occurs in the woods. The least flycatcher prefers orchards, but the greater portions of the genus _Empidonax_ are found in woodlands or thickets.

CAPRIMULGIDÆ: GOATSUCKERS.--The whip-poor-wills and chuck-wills-widow occur in the thick wood, emerging occasionally at night, but seldom straying from their retreats. A good way to secure these birds is to note as accurately as possible the point where one begins to sing; then, on the following evening, conceal yourself near the spot, when the bird will be seen to emerge from its retreat and alight on some particular rock, post, or branch, on which it invariably perches, and utters its song. Then if the bird be too far away to secure at the time, it may readily be taken another evening by the collector posting himself nearer. These birds may also be started from their concealment during daylight, and thus be shot. The night-hawks inhabit the more open sections, but perch on trees during the day. They may readily be secured while flying over the fields.

CYPSELIDÆ: SWIFTS.--The white-throated swift occurs among the clefts of the Rocky Mountains, and is exceedingly difficult to procure. The well-known chimney swift inhabits chimneys almost everywhere, but, as it never alights outside of these retreats, must be shot on the wing.

TROCHILIDÆ: HUMMINGBIRDS.--Inhabit as a rule the open country. I have secured numbers of our ruby-throats on cherry-trees when they were in blossom, and later, on beds of flowers; and I presume the western species may be found in similar situations. I shoot them with light charges of dust-shot, fired from my collecting gun.

ALCIDINIDÆ: KINGFISHERS.--These noisy birds are found plentifully in the vicinity of streams. They are shy and require a heavy charge of number eight to bring them down.

CUCULIDÆ: CUCKOOS.--The roadrunner of California, Texas, and intermediate locality, occurs in the sage bush, but our species of cuckoos, even the mangrove, inhabit thickets from which they occasionally emerge. They are usually betrayed by their notes. They are easily killed, their skin being very thin and tender.

PICIDÆ: WOODPECKERS.--Occur, as a rule, in the woodlands, but the smaller species and the golden-winged inhabit orchards. They are all tough birds to kill. They are a generally distributed family, but some species are confined to certain localities, for example, the great ivory-billed is not found outside of Florida, and even there, is confined to a limited area, and very rare. Strickland's woodpecker has as yet only been found in the United States in a single range of mountains in Arizona.

PSITTACIDÆ: PARROTS.--Our Carolina paroquet is now exceedingly rare out of Florida, and then occurs in the neighborhood of cypress swamps, but occasionally visits the plantations.

STRIGIDÆ: OWLS.--The burrowing owl occurs in the western plains and in a limited area of Florida. The snowy owl inhabits sand-hills of the coast in winter, and the short-eared occurs in the marshes, but all other species are birds of the deep woods, occasionally emerging, however, especially at night. The great horned and barred may be decoyed within shooting distance in the spring by imitating their cries, and the latter-named species will also eagerly fly toward the collector when he produces a squeaking sound similar to that made by a mouse. The small owls may be often found in holes of trees.

FALCONIDÆ: HAWKS, EAGLES, ETC.--Marsh hawks occur in fields, meadows, and marshes. Everglade kites are found on the widespread savannahs of Florida, while the swallow-tailed Mississippi and white-shouldered are found on the prairies of the south and west. The buzzard hawks usually occur in the woods, but during the migrations pass over the fields, flying high. The fish-hawk is abundant on the seacoast, but also visits the ponds and lakes of the interior. The duck-hawk is fond of clefts, and migrates along the seacoast. The sharp-shinned sparrow and pigeon are often found in solitary trees in fields, where they hunt for mice, but they also occur in open woods. The bald eagle occurs on the seashore or on large bodies of water, but the golden eagle prefers the mountainous regions.

CATHARTIDÆ: VULTURES.--Occur everywhere throughout the south. The great California vulture is now very rare.

COLUMBIDÆ: PIGEONS.--Are usually found in fields, but the wild pigeon is often taken in the woods. The ground doves are found in fields which are bordered with thickets, to which they retreat when alarmed. Two or three species are found on the Florida Keys, and about as many more in Texas.

MELEAGRIDÆ: TURKEYS.--Wild turkeys occur in the wilderness of the south and west. They inhabit open woods as a rule, often roosting at night in swamps.

TETRAONIDÆ: GROUSE, QUAIL, ETC.--The Canada, ruffled, and allied species of grouse occur in the woodlands. The prairie sharp-tail and sage-hen are found on the plains of the west, while the ptarmigans inhabit the bleak regions of the north. The common quail is widely distributed throughout the more open country, from Massachusetts to Texas, and the plumed California and allied species occur in the southwest, frequenting the thickets of the prairies, or along the mountain-sides.

CHARADRIDÆ: PLOVERS.--These are, as a rule, maritime birds, especially during the southward migrations, but many of the species breed in the interior, and the kildeer and mountain plovers are always more common on bodies of fresh water. None of the species are, however, found far from water, but they all alight in dry fields in search of food.

HÆMATOPODIDÆ: OYSTER-CATCHERS AND TURNSTONES.--All these birds inhabit the seacoast. They occur in oyster-beds or among rocks.

RECURVIROSTRIDÆ: AVOCETS AND STILTS.--Both these species are birds of the interior, being found in the south and west in the vicinity of water.

PHALAROPODIDÆ: PHALAROPES.--These singular birds are found off the coast, often far out at sea during winter, but, oddly enough, breed in the interior, nesting throughout the northwest and north. They are, however, occasionally found on the coast during the northward migration, especially during storms.

SCOLOPACIDÆ: SNIPES, WOODCOCK, ETC.--Woodcock and snipes are usually found in freshwater swamps, especially in spring. The true sandpipers, like peep, grass-birds, etc., haunt the pools in marshes or accompany the sanderlings on the beaches. The godwits are found on the marshes, as are also red-breasted snipe, but the curlews inhabit hill-tops, especially during the autumnal migration. I have, however, found the long-billed curlew on the beaches of Florida. Willets and yellow-legs occur on the marshes or on the borders of streams.

TANTALIDÆ: IBISES AND SPOONBILLS.--Occur along the borders of streams and other bodies of fresh water, or on mud-flats in the far south.

ARDEIDÆ: HERONS.--These are widely distributed birds. The true herons occur along the margins of bodies of water, both on the coast and in the interior, while the bitterns generally haunt only the fresh water.

GRUIDÆ: CRANES.--Are found on the prairies of the west and south, frequenting the vicinity of water.

ARAMIDÆ: COURLAN.--The well-known crying-bird is found only in Florida, inhabiting swamps along the rivers and lakes of the interior.

RALLIDÆ: RAILS, GALLINULES, AND COOTS.--The true rails inhabit very wet marshes, both salt and fresh, concealing themselves in the grass. Gallinules and coots are found on the borders of fresh water.

PHOENICOPTERIDÆ: FLAMINGOES.--The flamingo occurs only with us, on the extensive mud-flats in extreme Southern Florida, where they are exceedingly difficult to procure, being very shy.

ANATIDÆ: GEESE, DUCKS, ETC.--These are all inhabitants of the water, being seldom found far from it. Some species, like the teal, prefer secluded pools in the interior, while the wood-duck and others frequent woodland streams; and the eiders and marine ducks are abundant in the waters of the ocean.

SULIDÆ: GANNETS.--Excepting while breeding, these birds keep well out to sea, and are thus quite difficult to procure. All of the marine species are liable to be driven inland during severe storms, and the collector should not fail to take advantage of such circumstances.

PELECANIDÆ: PELICANS.--The brown pelican is a resident of the extreme southern coast, and may be found on sand-bars or perched on trees in the immediate vicinity of water. The white pelican is found in similar localities in winter, but migrates northward during the summer, breeding in the interior, from Utah to the Arctic regions.

GRACULIDÆ: CORMORANTS.--Occur on sand-bars in the south, or on rocky cliffs in the north, and on the Pacific coast. During migrations they keep well out to sea. They have the habit, in common with the gannets and pelicans, of alighting on barren sand-spits which rise out of the water.

PLOTIDÆ: DARTERS.--The snake-bird of the south occurs on bodies of fresh water, and may be seen perched on trees or flying high in air. They are exceedingly difficult to kill, being, as a rule, shy, and very tenacious of life.

TACHYPETIDÆ: FRIGATE BIRDS.--The frigate bird is found with us only on the Gulf of Mexico and among the Florida Keys. They are usually seen upon wing, but I have observed thousands perched on the mangroves on the Keys. They roost on the trees on lonely islets at night, at which time they appear so stupid that they may be approached quite readily.

PHÆTONIDÆ: TROPIC BIRDS.--These fine birds occur only in tropical waters unless they are accidentally blown out of their latitude by storms. They breed on the rocky cliffs of the Bahamas and Bermudas.

LARIDÆ: GULLS, TERNS, ETC.--The Skua gulls keep well out to sea, as a rule, but occasionally enter harbors and bays in pursuit of gulls and terns, which they rob of their prey. Gulls and terns of the various species rest on sand-bars or fly along the shore.

PROCELLARIDÆ: PETRELS.--Excepting while breeding, these birds keep well out to sea and are thus quite difficult to procure. They haunt the waters which are frequented by fishermen, however, and may be procured by visiting these localities on some fishing-smack.

COLYMBIDÆ: LOONS.--Are found in both fresh and salt waters, but are somewhat difficult to procure on account of their habit of diving.

PODICIPIDÆ: GREBES.--These birds have similar habits to those of the loons, but are found in smaller bodies of water, notably the Pied-billed, one or more specimens of which occur in almost every little pool throughout the country, especially during the southward migration.

ALCIDÆ: AUKS, PUFFINS, ETC.--These birds are found off the coast during migration, but breed on the rocky shores of both coasts.

Although the foregoing list gives the locality in which a given species may be found, as a rule, it is always well to bear in mind that birds have wings, and by the use of them may stray into unaccustomed localities far distant from their usual habitance. For example, a burrowing owl was shot on the marshes of Newburyport, and a petrel, which has hitherto been known to science through a single specimen which was taken many years ago in the southern hemisphere, was picked up, in an exhausted condition, in a ploughed field of the interior of New York. The young collector then should ever be on the alert, keeping well in mind the fact that the art which he is pursuing is not lightly learned. I have frequently heard the inexperienced remark that he could easily kill a hundred birds in a day; and although this might be true on certain occasions,--for I have seen over this number killed by one person in two discharges of a gun,--yet, as a rule, a good collector will seldom bring in over fifty birds during his best days. A man must not only be experienced, but will be obliged to work hard in order to average twenty-five birds in a day. Although there are some "born" collectors who will procure birds, even if they be provided with no more formidable weapon than a boy's catapult, yet the peculiar attributes which make up a good collector are mainly to be acquired. A quick eye to detect a flutter of a wing or the flit of a tail among waving foliage; an ear ready to catch the slighest chirp heard amid the rustling leaves, and so skilled as to intrepret the simple gradations of sound which distinguish the different species; a constant wide-awake alertness, so that nothing escapes the observation, and which gives such nice control over the muscles that the gun comes to the shoulder with a promptitude that combines thought with action; and an unwearying patience and pluck which totally disregard minor obstacles, are some of the characteristics which must be possessed by the individual who wishes to bring together a good collection of birds by his own exertions. If one does not possess these traits, why, then study to acquire them; for securing birds is as fine an art as is preserving them after they are obtained.