File:Illustrations of the birds of California, Texas, Oregon, British and Russian America. - Intended to contain descriptions and figures of all North American birds not given by former American authors, (14751254582).jpg

Identifier: illustrationsofb00cass (find matches)
Title: Illustrations of the birds of California, Texas, Oregon, British and Russian America. : Intended to contain descriptions and figures of all North American birds not given by former American authors, and a general synopsis of North American ornithology.
Year: 1862 (1860s)
Authors: Cassin, John, 1813-1869 J.B. Lippincott & Co., publisher White, George G. (George Gorgas), d. 1898, ill Hitchcock, William E., lithographer Bowen, John T., ca. 1801-1856?, lithographer
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: Philadelphia: : J.B. Lippincott & Co.
Contributing Library: University of Pittsburgh Library System
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh Library System

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h collectors. Coming northward, asmany species do in the months of April and May, when excursions to thewoods are attended with such agreeable accompaniments, the short period oftheir stay is the most deeply interesting of the ornithological season, whetherthe object be to study birds in the fields and woods, or only to procure choicespecimens for the cabinet. In either case, the observer or collector will findhimself greatly tempted by these attractive little birds, to the exclusion, pro-bably, of others, not so gay, perhaps, in plumage, but equally interesting inother respects. Bird-collecting is the ultimate refinement,—the ne plus ultra of all thesports of the field. It is attended with all the excitement, and requires allthe skill, of other shooting, with a much higher degree of theoretical infor-mation and consequent gratification in its exercise. Personal activity, notnecessarily to be exerted over so great a space as in game-bird shooting, (278) Cassius lUustralioii Plate i7
Text Appearing After Image:
OnStuncb7^E Hilcicoci Silvicuklirllainlii /).,,r,/ LllK Pxuilei J- Col^byJ T Bowen,Flul KIKTLANDS WAKBLER. 279 but in a much greater diversity of locality, coolness, steadiness of hand,quickness of eye and of ear, especially the latter;—in fact, all the accom-plishments of a first-rate shot, will be of service; and some of them are in-dispensable to successful collecting. The main reliance is, however, on theear, for the detection of birds by their notes, and involves a knowledge, themore accurate and discriminating the better, which can only be acquired byexperience, and always characterizes the true woodsman, whether naturalistor hunter. This ability is of incomparable value to the collector. Whether in thetangled forest, the deep recesses of the swamp, on the sea-coast or in theclear woodlands, on the mountain or in the prairie, it advises him of whateverbirds may be there, or affords him a higher gratification, announcing the pre-sence of a bird that he does not know. We recogni

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