A New Method of Bird Study and Photography. 



In one or two instances I had serious trouble from cutting away too much foliage about 

 a nest in very hot weather, but such accidents are really needless, if one follows the rule 

 of leaving the birds to their own devices on days of excessive heat and humidity. In all 

 the other cases, everything went well, and the young left the nest in due course. 



Kingbirds have remained in the 

 nest eleven days after the change, 

 Robins a week, Cedar-birds six days. 

 A glance at the table will show that 

 in one instance, that of the Chestnut- 

 sided Warbler (16), observations were 

 begun while there were eggs, and I 

 have no doubt that in many species 

 the whole period of life in the nest 

 from hatching to the time of flight 

 may be watched from the tent, but 

 the subject is yet open to experiment. 

 It is all a question of the strength of 

 the parental instincts at the period 

 in question. Where this attachment 

 to nest and eggs is strong as in Owls, 

 Fish Hawks, Flickers, Kingbirds, 

 and the Chipping Sparrows, to men- 

 tion a few cases, we may look for 

 success. 



I am confident that the movable 

 tent has a great future as an obser- 

 vatory for the study of bird-habit, and 

 that it will be possible to watch the 

 building of the nest in such species as 

 have a strong attachment to chosen 



sites, and whose plans are not easily disturbed by trifles. Here is certainly a fallow field 

 which has been scratched only here and there by the plow, and where attempts to culti- 

 vate it fail, no harm is done. In making experiments in this direction care should be 

 taken not to approach too near with the tent, at least on the first day. Again it is pro- 

 bable that many kinds of birds may be attracted by food and other lures, but the possible 

 rewards of sedentary experiments in this direction are too uncertain to arouse much en- 

 thusiasm in the mind of the active bird student. 



I have no desire to anticipate every objection which might be raised against the 

 method, were it possible to do so, but after testing it to the best of my ability with the 

 opportunities of two summers, I am confident of its value and am ready 

 to stand sponsor for it in judicious hands. It is hardly necessary to insist the Method 



that it is not designed for exhibition purposes, and that its successful 

 practice requires some knowledge, with more patience and time. 



To the trained naturalist patience has long ceased to be a virtue. He is accustomed 



Fig. 10. Female Bluebird with cricket in bill, ready to enter 

 nest-hole. See Fig. 5. 



