THE CAMERA 



271 



FIG. 4. A YOUNG MILK SNAKE. 



Life size seen on lateral view. 



copperhead, as he makes a similar at- 

 tempt to get away (Fig. 6). 



Their respective traits are equally 

 well shown when taken upon a vertical 

 view; for there is a lack of anything 

 resembling a "coil" in the innocuous 

 young Heterodon, seen in Fig. 5, as 

 compared with the very threatening 

 pose assumed by the aforesaid young 

 copperhead reproduced in Fig. 7, — it 

 being the same specimen as shown in 

 Fig. 6. 



It will be noticed that two of these 

 pictures are taken upon a direct lateral 

 view (Figs 4 and 6), and two upon di- 

 rect upper or vertical view (Figs. 5 and 

 7). By the aid of a hand-lens the 

 minutest character can be readily made 

 out in any one of them. 



If one chances to be very fortunate, 

 the photographing of one of these 

 young snakes, in the manner shown in 

 Figs. 4 to 7, may be accomplished in a 

 moment — or, perhaps, in a few mo- 

 ments — while it sometimes requires a 

 very much longer time. For example, 

 the one shown in Fig.7 I obtained in 

 about a minute ; Fig. 5 in twenty min- 

 utes, and in the case of those shown in 

 Figs. 4 and 6, each took about two 

 hours. 



These little snakes are very restless, 

 incomprehensive and erratic, and con- 

 sequently make very trying subjects, 

 notwithstanding the fact that one has 

 them perfectly at one's mercy and in- 

 doors. 



To obtain results like those shown 

 in Figs. 5 and 7 is not so very difficult. 

 With them, I used a 5x8 gallery camera 

 with a high-class lens. The white 

 background is heavy, perfectly clean, 

 non-glossy cardboard. You first focus 

 on some object of the same size as 

 the snake, and get it sharp on the 

 groundglass of the camera, where it 

 will make the picture in the middle of 

 the plate. Next, remove the "dummy ;" 



place your snake in exactly the same 

 place, and cover it with the lid of a 

 small, circular box, under which it can 

 rest with perfect comfort. Allow 

 things to rest for several minutes, until 

 you are sure that the imprisoned snake 

 is perfectly quiet. In the meantime, put 

 in the camera a quick plate of the best 

 make (isochromatic;) set for the small- 

 est stop, and use a rapid shutter. 

 When everything is ready, uncover the 

 snake. Do this, not by a slow, cautious 

 movement, but rather by a very rapid 

 and dexterous one. If he chances to be 

 in a pose to suit you, the exposure may 

 be made at once; if not, move him into 

 position with some light object, such 

 as a lead pencil. If he gets nervous 

 and moves off, the only thing to do is 

 to go through the whole performance 

 again until you succeed. 



To obtain the side views of these 



FIG. 5. A YOUNG BLOWING VIPER. 

 Life size: seen directly from above. 



snakes, I use a similar piece of white 

 cardboard, curved to an arc of the 

 circle, and held in position by any suit- 

 able device. (Screw-clamps, etc.). 

 Then I proceed by the same methods 

 used in obtaining the vertical views. 



